Walking down the streets of Jimbocho in Tokyo during the Summer humidity you look up and notice the cooling shades of green and mermaid tail shaped foliage that carpet the tree branches above. These ancient trees are Ginko trees, often planted outside of sacred shrines, the non-flammable leaves act as protection from fire. You hope to return in the Autumn to see the green clouds of leaves above you ablaze with golden turmeric yellow.
This painting was created while I was on a residency in Tokyo, Japan in 2018. Painted in my signature grid format, it explores the shape, form, and colour of summertime Ginko leaves and by extension the atmosphere of summer in Japan.