The Three Whites
of Hokusai
Upon my return from the United States of Americas I was fortunate to have a commission waiting for me. But I didn´t have my studio anymore, since I closed mine before leaving for the Americas. Luckily, a friend of mine, Amer Hadžić, invited me to use space of the Art & Education Center – Arka, that he is running. This is another big welcome back moment that I needed upon my return. I am an outsider, not part of the mainstream art scene in Sarajevo (if there is such) nor part of any cliques that (de)formed the scene. I have respect for people who do and I diss those who are all talk and no show. And Sarajevo is full of individuals who do and don´t brag. Often pulling the entire group of people with them and when they leave, talkers stay to tell the story. Seen it so many times. Wu!
So back to the painting. A friends of friends wanted identical painting that I did for their friends who are my friends and now I am just messing with this sentence. Two Cranes on a Snow-Covered Pine Tree after Hokusai, why not accept, I am very strict in what I do and the way I do it. We talked and what I realized that they were interested into depiction of two cranes on Hokusai´s painting and emotions that I have pulled out of them, I said, well he did crane a lot, so let me see what we can do. And of course, I dig-dive-dip into archives looking for the good source, but I just couldn´t find the right emotion, a certain level of couple intimacy, you know, those who danced together for long long time. What I liked was the scene and the story behind Fugaku hyakkei: Sanpaku no Fuji (Manga: One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji: Three Whites of Fuji) where he played with 3 white objects formula (bird, snow and flower) from traditional Kano school of Japanese painting. You have to understand that Kano was higher (academic) art and ukiyo-e was common – lesser respected art – more like illustration for posters. I liked 3 whites as a theme but also as a technique challenge of how to have 3 different whites in contrast with one from another. At this point I knew that this was the scene but I was dissatisfied with the cranes depicted, they looked just like 2 birds caught in the snow, no emotions. I decided to borrow what I already knew would work, two cranes from the previous painting. What I did differently is that I didn´t use strong Prussian blue outline but rather kept composition of cranes as a single form, underpainted pearl metallic white, with accents of white and platinum markers drawing, giving them celestial attributes but still tide to this Creation with strong orange and reds. Fuji is gradient of reflective white; it can take over the first plan depending on the lights in the room. And snow is just strong Titanium white impasto.
I believe that I will tackle 3 whites theme in Hokusai style at least one more time again.
Technique: acrylic on canvas
Size: 80 x 60 cm
Year: December 2023
Availability: In Private Collection
Japanesque