Ellis Island 46 Possibly 1988 - 1989

Madoka Takagi created this gelatin silver print of Ellis Island, entitled '46'. It depicts a bare room, sunlight streaming in from barred windows. Takagi was drawn to sites of historical trauma and social exclusion. Here, the artist emphasizes the emotional weight of a place synonymous with immigration. The photograph highlights the institutional character of the building. Note how light and shadow interact with the architecture. The bars on the windows and the bare walls might evoke the anxiety and uncertainty experienced by immigrants. Takagi is commenting on the social structures and institutional processes that shape people's lives, inviting us to consider how these spaces reflect broader social attitudes towards immigration and belonging. To fully appreciate this work, it helps to consider the history of Ellis Island. Photographs, documents, and oral histories can shed light on how it functioned as a gateway to the American dream and a site of bureaucratic control. By exploring this history, we can better understand the power of art to question social norms.