Materials: Japanese paper, gouache, traditional Japanese pigments
Exhibition location: ESPACIO Nagoya Castle – Corridor (3rd floor)
Paulownia and Phoenix
This auspicious painting depicts a Houoh resting in a paulownia tree. In East Asian tradition, the Houoh is believed to dwell only in the paulownia, making the pairing of the mythical bird and the tree a long-standing symbol of peace, prosperity, and good fortune. The vibrant colors and delicate shimmer, achieved through the use of mica and traditional Japanese pigments, further enhance the graceful presence of the Houoh.
Ken Matsubara
Born in 1948 in Kamiichi-cho, Toyama Prefecture. In 1987, he won the Special Excellence Award at the Ueno Royal Museum Painting Grand Prize Exhibition. 2019 solo exhibition “KŪKAI - Sun and Moon -” (Ippodo NY). Philadelphia Museum of Art's fusuma painting “Sun, Moon, Sky and Sea Chart” is in the collection. 2022 solo exhibition “Nature and the Ring of Space and Time” (Shusui Art Museum). In addition, he has held numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the country.
