Yumiko Kayukawa
"49 Days"
La Luz de Jesus Gallery
September 3 - 26, 2010
Artist Reception: Friday, September 3rd; 8-11 PM
Print Release & Signing: Friday, September 3rd; 7-8 PM
In Buddhism, the numbers 4 and 9 are bad luck.
The Japanese phonetic pronunciation of 4 (shi) is also that of death, and 9 (ku) is also pain. After death, the dead are believed to wander the earth for 49 days as spirits. Part of the cremation ceremony involves the passing of the ashes via chopsticks from one mourner to the other. They are ultimately collected into an urn, which is taken home and kept for that same 49 days, until they are buried in a grave reserved for the wandering spirit –who is then free to be born again into new life.
The paintings in Yumiko Kayukawa’s "49 Days" all carry a feeling of existing between life and death, and in these pieces, images of food and chopsticks can pertain to either. One of Yumiko’s great passions is eating, which she views as the symbolic opposite of death. She has a marvelous knack for infusing her paintings with that appreciation for fine food and dining, and the figures in her work seem to enjoy flavors that convey unbelievable delight –leaving the viewer with a slight bite of wistful envy.
Contact the Gallery Director for availability and purchase info: (323) 666-7667