Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe) c. 1984 - 1986

Editor: This is a print by Matsubara Naoko, titled "Page from Hagoromo (Feathered Robe)." It has a really striking, graphic quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on the relationship between humanity and nature. In the Hagoromo story, a fisherman finds a celestial robe, forcing a Tennin, a divine being, to dance for him to get it back. Think about the power dynamics there, and how the artist reclaims that narrative. Editor: So, you're saying the artist is making a statement about exploitation? Curator: Exactly. How can we consider historical and ongoing exploitation of resources in relation to narratives of divinity and ownership, and also the role of women in those narratives? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. I didn't realize there was so much depth here. Curator: Art is powerful. It allows us to look deeper at our own social and historical context.