Southern Islander c. 1920s

Kamisaka Sekka’s ‘Southern Islander’ is a woodblock print of muted earth tones. It’s easy to imagine the artist patiently carving the image into blocks, layering colours to build this striking image. It feels like a scene observed through the eyes of a traveler; I can imagine Sekka encountering this figure and wanting to capture the moment, with the woman framed by the gnarly roots of the tree. What do you think she might be thinking? What is her story? I admire her graceful posture as she carries the heavy load. The print has a flat quality reminiscent of traditional Japanese art, but it also plays with depth and perspective. Sekka's work bridges tradition and modernity, a conversation that painters have been having for centuries, each artist building on what came before, while trying to find new ways of seeing and feeling. I find it so inspiring.