Nº	No.0034
Title	Karakusa Kaze Tayori (唐草風便り)
Material	Oil painting, canvas.
Size	F30号(910×727mm)
Exhibition name	2024 Nichibi Exhibition (Excellence Award, Kusakabe Award)

Picture description

The term karakusa (唐草) refers to a traditional Japanese decorative pattern, often featuring swirling vines and leaves, commonly used in art and textiles. Kaze (風) means "wind" or "style," and tayori (便り) means "letter" or "message." This title likely conveys a message or correspondence with a design inspired by the karakusa pattern.

The story depicted in the painting follows a girl who, after learning that eating the fruit from a karakusa tree can seal away plagues, embarks on a journey to find this legendary tree. She arrives at Cape Soya in Hokkaido. While gazing at Kunashir Island, which has become a foreign territory across the sea, she hears through the wind that the plague in her village has subsided. This moment is captured in the painting.

The wood deck is shaped like Hokkaido. And within the pattern of her skirt, there is a red fox (kitakitsune). In the background, vast barley fields stretch out. The composition follows the proportions of the golden triangle.

Creative process

Other points