I was invited to participate in the @riseexhibition alongside a cast of legendary international artists and designers to support those who were impacted by the Australian bushfires in the 2019-2020.
Charcoal were collected from the bushfire and sent to artists all over the world for them to use freely in their artworks.
I collaborated with the good people at @komonishizuka, a traditional Japanese kimono printing studio in Tokyo to print the artwork for the show. This printing studio has been around since the Meiji era and is one the very few kimono printing studios in Japan who still use traditional techniques in their dyeing process.
For the background of the artwork I chose an Ise washi-paper pattern that contains flying cranes and Japanese Matsu trees in hope to see the rebirth of the many Australian flora and fauna that was destroyed during the disaster.
A traditional Edo-komon printing technique using Ise washi paper to apply the pattern onto the surface.
The charcoal sent from Australia was sprinkled onto the surface of the piece to create a hazy effect over the pattern.
The typography I featured in my artwork is a Japanese four character idiom 枯樹生華, Koju Seika (literal translation: from fallen trees blossoms new flowers) that means to find hope during tough and difficult times.
Below is the alternate version for the main typography. This version was discarded for the more simple and Japanese Hige Moji style lettering of the final version.
The final artwork was put together with Gindei gold ink for the main typography and white Kofun powder with ground charcoal for the pattern that was printed on pre-dyed Japanese cotton.
The printed artwork was applied to wooden bars like a Japanese Kakejiku painting with traditional stone tassels hanging from its base.
Photo: Sam Law
The Exhibition was held at Carriage Works in Sydney Australia on March 12th 2020 and a Silent Art Auction was hosted online with all the artist's work open for bidding to the local and international community.
Photo: Sam Law
Photo: Sam Law
Photo: Sam Law
Photo: Sam Law
Thank you for the person/ people who bid on my artwork. Together (well mostly the kind soul(s) who purchased my artwork for a generously high price) we were able to help the folks effected by the bushfires back home.
