Numbers Series #10

Mixed media on wood panel, 12” x 12”, Private Collection

I don’t feel constrained by historical authenticity. It’s more important that the color ranges of the images create an overall sympathetic atmosphere. To soften the corners and edges of the panel, I added shading using cotton wool. While the vibrant colors of the kabuki dancer are lost in this vintage sepia photo, the muted tones of the enlarged banknote compensate, and perhaps even suggest a shoji screen. The calligraphy was applied using a complicated (and risky) transfer method involving a toner printer and chemicals. Dangling tassels might recall the draped curtain of the dancer’s stage.