Yō

Watercolor. An particularly tidy cucumber appreciator. Hanae Rivera.

Print & thread on fabric. The iconic 2-tailed yokai. Hanae Rivera.

Watercolor. 中崎町では猫又をよく見かけます。 火曜日まで阪急スークで中崎町の素敵なアートの数々が見られます。 This famous yokai is created from a normal feline, when its tail, gradually lengthening over the years, splits into two. It is known to kill a human, bury the body beneath floorboards, and take the form of the slain to deceive others and wreak vengeance. Depending on the tale (haha), this vengeance … Read more

Ink. Sköll (One Who Mocks) and Hati (One Who Hates), chasing Sol & Mani (the sun & the moon) until they devour them & Ragnarok is upon us.  北欧神話のオオカミのスコールとハティは太陽と月を追いかける。捕まえるとラグナロク(世の終わり)が起こる。 Skoll is the name of the wolfWho follows the shining priestInto the desolate forest,And the other is Hati,Hróðvitnir’s son,Who chases the bright bride of the sky. There’s … Read more

Ink. In 1846, a strange light appeared off the coast of Kumamoto. An official rowed out and met a wondrous creature, with sparkling fishy scales, pointed avian beak, and flowing long locks. This Amabie prophesied the coming of a mixed fortune for the area: ample produce in hand with pestilence. But, fear not, for it … Read more

Mixed media, ink & print. The 3-legged crow & divine guide.熊野の導きの神 Hanae Rivera

Oil pastel. Aesop’s Fables “The Fox and the Grapes” When delicious things are out of reach, we might scorn them to protect our egos.　 イソップ物語：「キツネとぶどう」いくら頑張っても、ある狐は美味しそうなぶどうを取れなかった。ついに「酸っぱいに違いない！」と思って、諦めた。英語の慣用句の「sour grapes」という負け惜しみ〜　 Hanae Rivera.

Oil pastel. 思わぬ方向に展開した瞬間: 子供の頃から好きなおとぎ話の一つだけでなく、一番大事かもしれない。過去に、この話を描いたことがある。彼岸花は「別れ」を表す The moment it all falls apart: This story (also Tsuru Nyobo [The Crane Wife]) has been one of my favorite stories since childhood & perhaps the most important. It begins with an injured crane who is saved by human kindness. Later, a young woman appears at the rescuer’s door during a … Read more

Oil Pastel. The Bully Goat (Коза-дереза) is a Ukrainian* folktale about a bratty goat who steals a bunny’s home. Many animals try to help the bunny, but even wolf and bear are scared of the threatening voice coming from the house. “I’ll bash you with my horns! I’ll trample you with my hooves!” Finally the … Read more

Ink. 鎌鼬. A 3-weasel yokai of unusual intrigue and great energy that you barely see, barely feel, and soon forget. It is the source of mysterious little booboos you notice after the fact & can’t remember getting. Hanae Rivera.