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Art Speaks Japanese Comes Alive! 2015 Student Contest

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By the Art Gallery of NSW

The Art Speaks Japanese Comes Alive! Student Contest is an art competition run by The Japan Foundation, Sydney inspired by the Art Speaks: Japanese education kit which contains 16 Japanese artworks from the Art Gallery of NSW collection.

For more information http://artalive.jpf-sydney.net/

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JUDGES' COMMENTS

It was exciting to see such a diverse and creative range of entries in the 2015 Art Speaks: Japanese Comes Alive competition.

We would again like to emphasise the competition criteria and note that the most successful entries used these criteria very effectively;
1) use inspiration from an artwork illustrated in the Art Speaks: Japanese education kit and that
2) use Japanese language elements.

Some of the most thoughtful entries used elements from the artworks in the education kit, but included their own individual approach. Jeesoo Song won the senior division with her work Onnagata taking inspiration from Karaori noh robe. Jeesoo has explored colour and delicate line work in an intriguing composition.

It was good to see students use a range of Japanese script. To make it effective, care is needed in checking that the script used is accurate, particularly in the case of kanji characters.

It was also great to see students exploring three-dimensional forms in their art making. George Leov’s What’s your zodiac? was an inspired sculpture, as was Florence McCulloch’s A woman’s heart.

The group entries and class displays were also very well thought out and achieved. Year 3 and 4 from Dalmain Primary School, WA presented Kimono, which demonstrated an effective combination of block printing, origami and Japanese language elements.

The artworks in the Art Speaks: Japanese education kit demonstrate a wide range of materials and styles as well as ideas and emotions. It would be great to see that diversity in the artworks presented for 2016. As well as exploring the images in the kit, take note of the questions and text included to inspire your ideas.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone's contributions next year.

The judges were Louise Halpin, Education Coordinator at the Art Gallery of NSW; Cathy Jonak, Senior Language Consultant; and Ben Trumbull, Program Coordinator, Japanese Language Department, The Japan Foundation, Sydney.

PRIMARY YEARS DIVISION

FIRST PRIZE

Beauty in water
Shiori Ishikawa, Year 4
Farrer Primary School, ACT

I was inspired by Karaori noh robe with designs of flowers of the four seasons. I liked the flowers of all the different seasons. I wanted to make a kimono that showed a different image. I chose wisteria which is beautiful but is not on the noh robe. I wanted to used different mediums like felt and watercolour. The felt, the lake and the frog are all inspired from a Japanese art in our home. It is a mix of inspirations and makes me feel calm like at the edge of a lake with wisteria flowers hanging over me. I am floating.

*Beauty in water* Shiori Ishikawa, Year 4 Farrer Primary School, ACT

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Beauty in water
Shiori Ishikawa, Year 4
Farrer Primary School, ACT

SECOND PRIZE

Enlightened moonlight
Emma Avakian, Year 4
Farrer Primary School, ACT

Well I saw the hanging scroll When the mountain is high the moon rises late. I read the back and saw that the moon is a symbol for enlightenment. I researched tree meanings to decide which trees to put in my artwork. Like the cherry tree means awakenings and rebirth and the pine tree symbolises long life. As I wanted it to look natural I started sketching and putting additions in. I then did all the watercolour and the Japanese element (the types of trees). Then lastly I added the foil on the moons.

*Enlightened moonlight* Emma Avakian, Year 4 Farrer Primary School, ACT

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Enlightened moonlight
Emma Avakian, Year 4
Farrer Primary School, ACT

THIRD PRIZE

4x4 track in Australia
Jasper Abel, Year 6
Lords, Qld

This is looking out of a cabin in the mountains onto a 4x4 track in Australia and a lake with things in it like boats and jet skies. I did this artwork because I like riding on 4x4 tracks and I love 4x4s.

*4x4 track in Australia* Jasper Abel, Year 6 Lords, Qld

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4x4 track in Australia
Jasper Abel, Year 6
Lords, Qld

SPECIAL MENTION

Wedding cake kimono
Eleanor Cranswick, Year 3
Farrer Primary School, ACT

I was inspired by Beauty looking back. She is wearing a lovely kimono. When a friend of our family got married she wore a wedding dress that looked like a cake. So I thought I would make a kimono that looks a bit like a cake. Kimono are beautiful so I wrote 'Beauty of Japan' as my Japanese element. It is made of clay and paint.

*Wedding cake kimono* Eleanor Cranswick, Year 3 Farrer Primary School, ACT

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Wedding cake kimono
Eleanor Cranswick, Year 3
Farrer Primary School, ACT

SPECIAL MENTION

Pure imagination
Zoe Clark, Year 6
Lords QLD

My picture is about ET, the alien and the boy, as they take a leap of faith into the unknown to find ET's way home. I got my inspiration from life. It straight away reminded me of ET. I used Sekiya Inlet as my base for my picture. Sekiya Inlet was made in 1857 by a man named Hiroshige. I've made an old painting into a modern picture.

*Pure imagination* Zoe Clark, Year 6 Lords QLD

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Pure imagination
Zoe Clark, Year 6
Lords QLD

DISPLAY AWARD

Kimono
Years 3 and 4
Dalmain Primary School, WA

'Karaori design contrasts a ground pattern, usually geometrical with a surface pattern, often floral' - quote from Art Speaks: Japanese. Students each wrote their own explanation.

We watched a slide show all about the kimono patterns and saw a picture called Karaori Nnoh robe with designs of flowers of the four seasons that gave us some inspiration. Our teacher showed us pictures of Japanese gardens and flowers that bloom in the different seasons. We looked at some Japanese flower pictures and we chose one to draw. We also did autumn leaves and winter snowflakes. We also had to choose a geometric shape. After that we drew the flowers into the shapes, most people chose a hexagon and drew a flower inside.

We had to do two designs and pick our favourite one. We traced it onto a piece of foam using carbon-copy paper had to press our flower [design] into the foam. We had to push in the parts we wanted white. We all chose a colour and we used special ink and printed our flower design on an A3 sheet using a tool called a printing press. Our teacher photocopied our prints and cut them into origami squares. We folded them into a kimono and put a gold or silver piece of paper around them for a belt. They were put on display. It looked great.

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MIDDLE YEARS DIVISION

FIRST PRIZE

What's your zodiac
George Leov, Year 8
Billabong High School, NSW

My artwork What’s your zodiac? was inspired by the artwork Night of one hundred goblins* by Hyakki Yagyo. I used lots of little things from the scroll as inspiration; this is similar to all the little origami pieces I used to create the modular origami dragon. The idea of many little things coming together to make a whole is the concept of my artwork.
I created an origami dragon because when I was looking at the zodiac wheel I noticed that I was born in the year of the dragon (2000). To construct the dragon I had to fold over two thousand pieces in red, black, white and blue. After I had folded all the origami pieces I then had to slot the pieces together to get the dragon. Over all the dragon took a period of one month to make. I created the base (the zodiac wheel) because without the base the dragon would be incomplete.

The base on which the dragon stands is simple so that it doesn’t draw attention away from the dragon. On the zodiac wheel I have put hiragana at the top near each of the names and roumaji under the dates. The Japanese when translated mean the names of each animal on the zodiac wheel. I have chosen the main colours of the dragon red (aka) and white (shiro) because they are the colours of the Japanese flag. Red also has significant spiritual meaning in Japanese culture.

*What's your zodiac* George Leov, Year 8 Billabong High School, NSW

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What's your zodiac
George Leov, Year 8
Billabong High School, NSW

SECOND PRIZE

My tears
Angela Truong, Year 9
St Agnes Catholic High School, NSW

This work was inspired by Beauty looking back. Though this image has been used many times, it can be understood why. Beauty looking back is a visual representation of the times back in Japan. The time back then was rough as the Japanese had to move forward in order to advance and the painter had painted a gorgeous yet sombre looking female adjusting her clothes. This painting had inspired me to draw an image of the past and future.

The female on the left who is crying is the past and the tears from the past turn into her future counter-part. 'I wept to my un-returning past, but my tears will eventually radiate and illuminate my tomorrow for me' is a rough translation of the Japanese quote on the right and reflects the image around it. In a way, she is looking back to her future where it is brighter than her life now and therefore, her tears will eventually turn into happiness in due time.

This was created on a laptop with Paint Tool Sai.

*My tears* Angela Truong, Year 9 St Agnes Catholic High School, NSW

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My tears
Angela Truong, Year 9
St Agnes Catholic High School, NSW

THIRD PRIZE

A woman's heart
Florence McCulloch, Year 10
Mackay North State High School, QLD

A woman’s heart is a ceramic figurine of a young woman wearing the traditional kimono, hand-moulded, fired and double glazed to achieve the desired colour. It is inspired by a number of artworks in Art Speaks: Japanese, most significantly by the mysteriously alluring young woman depicted in Kainoshou Tadaoto’s Beauty looking back. It is also influenced by the women of Scene from the Tale of Genji, and the beautiful Karaori noh robe. The kana on the back (haiku by a famous female poet, Chiyo-ni, which says 'Airing out her kimono, as well as her heart, is never enough') is inspired by the calligraphic poem on Small tea bowl with landscape and poem and When the mountain is high and the moon rises late.

*A woman's heart* Florence McCulloch, Year 10 Mackay North State High School, QLD

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A woman's heart
Florence McCulloch, Year 10
Mackay North State High School, QLD

I love you, Aishiteru
Morgan Woodford, Year 10
University of Canberra High School
Kaleen, ACT

When looking through the education kit I was looking deeper into the paintings and artworks. I was looking into something that others may not see. So I was looking into the sea. 'What would be in the sea?', I thought. What is something peaceful? So I decided on two koi fish. These two kois are drawn and painted to look as if they are in love. Swimming around each other following each other in a loving motion is supposed to represent the term 'I will follow you where ever you go'. The painting I was inspired by was The arrival of the Portuguese

I chose to first sketch the drawing and then lightly colour it with watercolours. The watercolours that were used were the paint kind. Depending on the colour intensity that I wanted, I put less water mixed with the paint for a more intense colour pay off and for a more sheer look I put less paint and more water. I chose this method because I find that watercolours are very beautiful and are a traditional Japanese method of colour.

*I love you, Aishiteru* Morgan Woodford, Year 10 University of Canberra High School Kaleen, ACT

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I love you, Aishiteru
Morgan Woodford, Year 10
University of Canberra High School
Kaleen, ACT

SPECIAL MENTION

Fireworks festival
Victoria Kantarelis, Year 10
East Hills Girls Technology High School, NSW

I was inspired by the Beauty looking back artwork, which was incorporated into my artwork with the girl looking behind her. I created my artwork using a graphics tablet and Paint Tool SAI on a PC. My artwork depicts a young girl at a fireworks festival looking back in awe at the firework display. I drew the other people a lot simpler than the rest of the artwork in order to draw the viewer's attention to the girl and the firework display. This artwork shows that even today's generation takes part in and appreciates cultural activities.

*Fireworks festival* Victoria Kantarelis, Year 10 East Hills Girls Technology High School, NSW

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Fireworks festival
Victoria Kantarelis, Year 10
East Hills Girls Technology High School, NSW

SPECIAL MENTION

Changing the face of tradition
Emily Kim and Helen Sun, Year 10
North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

We were inspired by the Karaori noh robe with design of flowers of the four seasons from the Edo Period. The intricacy and enchanting allure of the traditional design encouraged us to think of a way to perpetuate the appreciation for Japanese traditional culture in young people. We believed the solution was to recycle older, unused kimonos to make contemporary clothing for young people not just in Japan but around the world and our poster attempts to recreate our vision of adding a ‘new’ touch to the remarkable traditions, culture and heritage of Japan. The layering of cut out origami paper in our artwork represents this idea of reshaping and reusing to innovate and commemorate.

*Changing the face of tradition* Emily Kim and Helen Sun, Year 10 North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

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Changing the face of tradition
Emily Kim and Helen Sun, Year 10
North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

SPECIAL MENTION

Walk of the geisha
Eliza Ross-Smith and Caroline Andersson, Year 10
Scotch College, SA

We were inspired by the piece titled Sekiya Inlet and Suijin Woods viewed from Masaki neighbourhood. We used watercolour to paint the landscape, then cut shapes out of patterned paper to create the silhouette of geishas holding fans as they walk along. Washi paper was also used to create the effect of someone looking out of a window at the landscape. The Japanese word for 'nature' (自然) was also incorporated to reflect the themes of the piece.

*Walk of the geisha* Eliza Ross-Smith and Caroline Andersson, Year 10 Scotch College, SA

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Walk of the geisha
Eliza Ross-Smith and Caroline Andersson, Year 10
Scotch College, SA

CLASS AWARD

My Japanese holiday
Year 9 Japanese
North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

Our Year 9 Japanese group project entitled My Japanese holiday was inspired by the woodblock print Sekiya Inlet by Hiroshige. We imagined that we were in Japan on a travelling adventure of a lifetime. Our postcards from all over Japan reflect Japanese famous cities and cultural icons that reflect the fascinating country Japan is today!

We researched tourist destinations and the unique Japanese climate and the 4 seasons are also reflected in our work. We noticed how Hiroshige was influenced by the natural world and was highly sensitive to nature.

As Hiroshige depicted the natural landscapes of Japan, we have selected some ‘meisho’ that has special interest and significance to us. We have been inspired to visit these famous beautiful spots and hope you will experience these scenes for yourselves too!

*My Japanese holiday* Year 9 Japanese North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

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My Japanese holiday
Year 9 Japanese
North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

*My Japanese Holiday* Year 9 Japanese North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

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My Japanese Holiday
Year 9 Japanese
North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

DISPLAY AWARD

Culture Club, Bunka Kurabu, Year 10
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkley Vale Campus, NSW

The students wanted to create a mural as a lasting memory of their time at the junior campus that included aspects of contemporary Japanese culture. They wanted to include images such as manga, mixing that with easily recognisable Japanese works such as The great wave off Kanegawa by Hokusai, Sekiya Inlet and Suijin Woods viewed from Masaki neighbourhood.

This was juxtaposed against traditional symbols of Japan such as cherry blossoms (Karaori noh robe) and koinobori. Specific works such as Seated Buddha of Amida Buddha are referenced in the golden Buddha combined with an Aussie icon, the surfboard. The names of the students who painted the work are part of the painting itself.

Culture Club, Bunka Kurabu, Year 10 Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkley Vale Campus, NSW

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Culture Club, Bunka Kurabu, Year 10
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkley Vale Campus, NSW

Culture Club, Bunka Kurabu, Year 10 Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkley Vale Campus, NSW

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Culture Club, Bunka Kurabu, Year 10
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Berkley Vale Campus, NSW

DISPLAY AWARD

Fun, Tanoshii
Maitland High School, Year 7
NSW

Year 7 submitted design ideas that were then collaged together. In lunchtimes, they voluntarily came to draw the designs on the wall using pencil and a projector. Finally, we used primary acrylic paints and mixed up all the shades using red, blue, yellow, white and black.

Students speak of their inspiration:

Takara: When I looked at the beautiful kimono in the Art Speaks: Japanese education kit, I felt inspired to draw a geisha.

Abby-Rose: I chose the cherry blossom tree because they are in traditional Japanese art and modern art. I love the many colours.

Annaliesse: After looking at the education kit and having a new language teacher, I finally realised that Japanese is a fun language! That's how we decided on the title of our project!

As a low SES school there has been a huge change in perception towards foreign languages this year - we are thrilled that our students now love LOTE. This art competition was our motivation for creating a LOTE room mural! So thank you for this opportunity! - Maitland High School principal

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SENIOR YEARS DIVISION

FIRST PRIZE

Onnagata
Jeesoo Song, Year 12
Dulwich High School Visual Art and Design, NSW

My artwork Onnagata takes inspiration from Karaori 1800s. The design with gold and red floral pattern reminds of a fancy and elegant Japanese traditional garment, which is also used as costumes in Kabuki, a classical Japanese play. Dazzling displays of splendid garment inspires bold colours and iconic images of Onnagata.

Onnagata is a Japanese term for the male actors who specialise in playing women’s roles in Kabuki. In the past, a ban was imposed on women in Kabuki because women impersonating men was considered detrimental to public morality. For that reason, Onnagata impersonates a young girl, a daughter of commoner, a noblewoman and a special role called Keisei (a courtesan of the highest ranks) is considered the most important and difficult role since it requires the portrayal of beauty, charm and elegance on the stage in order to attract the male audience.

The ideal for the Onnagata is not to imitate women but to symbolically express the essence of the feminine. Bright red eye and lip make-up highlights the white skin, and delicate and varied abstract motifs emphasise the extravagant costumes. In all aspects, my artwork is based on a fascinating model of Onnagata, “傾 成” in Japanese, which represents Japanese cultural identity and tradition as in Karaori.

*Onnagata* Jeesoo Song, Year 12 Dulwich High School Visual Art and Design, NSW

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Onnagata
Jeesoo Song, Year 12
Dulwich High School Visual Art and Design, NSW

SECOND PRIZE

Ghost umbrella
Mary Verzosa, Year 12
Dickson College, ACT

My main inspiration for Ghost umbrella or Kasa-obake (傘おばけ) was Night procession of one hundred goblins. However, I also incorporated visual elements from Beauty looking back into my artwork.

While researching for the task, I found a lot of interesting facts concerning Night procession of one hundred goblins. Firstly, it was actually one of the artworks which inspired the modern art styles found in manga. Secondly, the artwork was apparently based on an old Japanese belief wherein, objects that reach 100 years acquire a spirit. I looked further into this legend and found that such objects were called Tsukumogami (付喪神). In many artworks, like in Night procession of one hundred goblins, Tsukumogami were commonly portrayed as animated, anthropomorphic, household objects. With these facts in mind, I began crafting my own artwork.

My goal was this: to re-interpret an existing Tsukumogami into a manga art style.

In a sense, I wanted to re-interpret Night procession of one hundred goblins into the modern manga style that it inspired in the first place. To start off, I first tried to find an existing Tsukumogami to use as the basis of my artwork. While searching through many Tsukumogami, I eventually came across the Kasa-obake, meaning ‘ghost umbrella’. This particular Tsukumogami was commonly portrayed as a caricaturised umbrella with one eye and a huge tongue. And so, using my own manga style, I drew a girl who had a one-eyed umbrella attached to her head and tongues on her scalp instead of hair. To add a bit of interest, I posed my character based on the position of the woman in Beauty looking back. I thought that this would be ironic because it shows that despite seeming frightening in some ways, something can also be beautiful. To finish it off, I gave the artwork an aged paper-look to match the aesthetic of Night procession of one hundred goblins.

*Ghost umbrella* Mary Verzosa, Year 12 Dickson College, ACT

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Ghost umbrella
Mary Verzosa, Year 12
Dickson College, ACT

THIRD PRIZE

A symbol of friendship
Hiroki Hunter, Year 12
Dickson College, ACT

The first step in creating the work was defining the requirements for the design. I wanted the piece to display the special friendship that Japan and Australia share by including artistic elements inspired by both cultures. The work was made using graphic design programs Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. The first step in the creation process involved taking photographs of the elements within the design to be manipulated into vector files. The vectors then went through several filters and methods to be changed into a Japanese style. For the sun and paint splash in the background, a separate pattern inspired by the works of the Indigenous Gurindji people was created. The pattern was then applied to different shapes and then placed into the background of the piece. The work was also heavily inspired by several elements from the Art Speaks: Japanese education kit.

Minimalism and simplicity are crucial elements of Japanese art, which is reflected in several of the works found in the education kit. For example, the seated image of Amida Buddha reflects simplistic harmony, with the combination of minimalistic elements working with one another. Negative space is also visible in the sculpture to bring further balance to the piece.

The elements of minimalism and negative space, inspired by the seated image of Amida Buddha were necessary to add to the design in order for it to have a Japanese aesthetic. The background and colours utilised in the design took direct inspiration from Tosa Mitsuyoshi's Scene from the Tale of Genji. The golden background with small contrasting elements in vivid colour inspired the elements within the art piece. The text on the work was created in a style inspired by the calligraphy work of Kanō Tan'yū. By combining elements inspired by both Japanese and Australian art, I was able to create a piece that was personally important to my Australian-Japanese heritage.

*A symbol of friendship* Hiroki Hunter, Year 12 Dickson College, ACT

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A symbol of friendship
Hiroki Hunter, Year 12
Dickson College, ACT

SPECIAL MENTION

Koi in water
Morgan Devey, Year 11
Wellington Point State High School, QLD

I believe my painting is a peaceful and flowing due to it including watercolour as the main medium, in addition to the outline in oil paint crayon. It improvises and demonstrates the cohesiveness of the water surrounding the traditional koi fish, and lends a modern flair to the otherwise older design, drawing from woodblock designs. The arrangements are schematic, allowing the viewer to observe without feeling the need to look further to understand the piece more. It relies on the romantic side of the audience, proposing an alternate view to the regular chocolates and roses. Drawing from its roots in Asian, and more specifically Japanese culture, the design represents a soft and mellow aurora that keeps the viewer at ease. I have found the ancestry of surrealism and minimalism in Ukiyo-e prints to be useful in the rearranging the multitude of ideas leading to this piece, allowing for one simple design to be the main focus, with colours being used to accentuate the beauty that is already there. The objects used in the combination of modernist and traditional Asian art hopes to make visible what is overlooked in our current global society.

*Koi in water* Morgan Devey, Year 11 Wellington Point State High School, QLD

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Koi in water
Morgan Devey, Year 11
Wellington Point State High School, QLD

SPECIAL MENTION

Now and then - Japan
Rebecca Hannam, Year 11
Wellington Point High School, QLD

Creating this picture, it was based around the Ukiyo-e - woodblock print; such as the Contemporary tale of three heroes (1860) and Death of Atsumori (1885). Looking into these types of prints it was aimed at modernising the subjects, whilst still trying to create a similar aesthetic to the traditional woodblock printing. This meant that the final product wanted to see the contrast between traditional Japan and modern Japan. Upon looking the final product, it was seen that it did not follow the traditional paintings of the Kabuki actors- but it did capture the essence of the culture of the land.

Capturing the essence of the culture has been shown by the comparisons of traditional (the traditional Torii gates) and the modern (the modern city and city life) cultures in Japan- but concludes that both in the past and in the future, Japan is a land and country of culture. Making this painting, the materials used were oil based sticks for the outline and the watercolour for the colour of the painting. Using this has been inspired by the woodblock prints, however, was thought to best represent this culture. The use of red for the gate has been used to make it the focaliser of this painting, but has also been used as it is the traditional colour for the Torii gates. The city in the background and the colour of the water has been made into the darker colours - of purple and dark blues, in order to make the city have a night time feeling; in which at night time in the Japan culture is very strong and the lights of the city shine; giving of the feeling that Japan is a city that is filled with culture both day and night.

*Now and then - Japan* Rebecca Hannam, Year 11 Wellington Point High School, QLD

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Now and then - Japan
Rebecca Hannam, Year 11
Wellington Point High School, QLD