With this project I would like to focus on the specific objects that my grandmother cherished most. After her death, visiting her house told me so much about who she was. Her possessions were a
mixture of American and Japanese culture. With the plastic Christmas tree and the collection of videos ranging from Mighty Mouse to Elvis, I saw my grandmother’s shrine for her ancestors, her lucky cat, and her antique sewing machine. Now that the house is gone as well, all I have is the memories. My goal is to evoke these memories through my watercolors.
The first watercolor in the series is an image of a Meneki Neko. Maneki Neko is Japanese for “beckoning cat.” Also known as Lucky Cat, Fortune Cat, Welcoming Cat, and Money Cat, the Maneki Neko is a beloved figure in Japan and adorns places of business, welcoming you to come in. Lucky Cats are a very popular collector items- typically a porcelain figure. My grandmother kept one in her home as well as in her place of business.
Maneki Neko, watercolor and ink on paper 2010
Ultimately, I would like to use the images from the watercolors to develop a design for a Noren (entrance curtain). A recent visit to the Serizawa exhibit at the Japan Society inspired me to make Noren. I feel that creating a Noren would be the perfect way for me to honor my grandmother and the story of her immigration as a symbol of passage from one place to another.
Silkscreen for printing design on noren
