This is the third artwork for my second series "A Night in Japan". I created this artwork using Copic markers and coloured pencil on Arches cold pressed, 300gsm paper. The dimensions are for the artwork - there is a narrow border around it for framing, as shown in one of the photos.
The work depicts a Geisha travelling in a taxi through Tokyo at night. The neon lights are reflected on the windows. She is wearing a traditional kimono. This scene is a glimpse into a world of ancient tradition, set in the modern day.
This series continues from my first, 'A Year in Japan', yet focuses on a single night in Tokyo. There is no longer a 'lone man', instead, a variety of people are shown, each going about their lives on this one night which binds them together. My influence for this series is also drawn from the film Blade Runner, a film loved for it's dystopian, 'Neo Tokyo' nighttime scenes. As with my first series, I am attempting to convey the Japanese phrase 物の哀れ 'mono no aware' - the gentle sadness of things. This refers to the ephemeral, transitory nature of the world, which in turn evokes a greater appreciation for things which are quick to disappear, such as cherry blossoms. The scenes I portray are fleeting moments in time, where the figures, objects and light will only be in that exact state for a moment, never to be repeated. Furthering this concept, this series depicts scenes from a single night in Tokyo, highlighting the ephemeral quality of time. The style I used was inspired by Studio Ghibli animation and traditional Japanese woodblock prints
My signature is on the artwork in gold pen, near the bottom right corner. The artwork is unframed. You can see an example of how I was going to frame it if you look at my listing for "Smoke".