Hanafuda

Acrylic Gouache / 12 paintings

I have been working on mixed cultural themed paintings (Japanese and NZ)

While creating my artwork I bring Japanese culture from the past and combine it with New Zealand culture and icons in the present. 

I use black lines from traditional Japanese painting methods and vivid colours to show the influence of other cultures and create a combination of old Japanese woodblock prints and pop art culture.

Hanafuda (flower cards) are old Japanese playing cards.

There are 48 cards in total, divided into 12 suits, representing months of the year. Each card is a depiction of plants, tanzaku (paper tag), animals, birds or man-made objects that are related to the month. 

I took basic compositions of Japanese cards and converted using NZ icons. 

I hope blending two cultures on the painting gives the idea of how different cultures can coexist and harmonise together in the beauty of multiculturalism.