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The story of the "Job well done!"
JANUARY 1, 2007 (edited 1/16/07)
(I often find myself getting even more interested in the artwork by knowing the story behind the image, and of course by getting to know the artist personality. I thought that sharing my insights of this image might also be of interest to other people.)
Every December Santa Claus delivers presents to the children all over the world. “Job well done!” is a scene that Santa stops by at a Japanese style teahouse for a cup of tea. Whether this stop was made before his delivery, during the delivery, or after the delivery, is up to your imagination.
The image itself was inspired by the most recent flight I took between America and Japan. Meeting Santa represents my personal experience of meeting people in 2006. I made some new friends and I had a priceless experience meeting a Santa Guy.
I have described the image elements below.
1. Drink service station (tea house): This tea station scene was inspired by the in-flight service between America and Japan. During the long flight, I heard the phrase "green tea or coffee?" several times. In-flight service is becoming less exciting these days but I am hoping that they will at least keep serving a cup of free tea or coffee... I also realized that the alcohol beverage was no longer free. Yay for me since I cannot drink alcohol anyway. It also results in fewer annoyingly drunk people on the airplane... (I am sorry for the gentle alcohol loving people though…)
The basic drinks offered to me during the recent flight were, and the reason they appear in my art are:
Coke: A representative of all carbonated soft drinks. However, when people ask for Coke, occasionally I hear: “Is Pepsi OK?” as a response. I do not remember which airline that was though.
Evian water: The last time I flew, water was in a pitcher with ice cubes. But I wanted to use a bottled water image so the first and the famous bottled water brand name that came to my mind was Evian.
Minutes Maid Orange Juice: I believe that it was not Tropicana. I think I saw the black label on the orange juice carton... I prefer fresh squeezed orange juice. Do they serve it on the first class??
Green tea: Japanese call it RYOKU-CHA (Green-Tea.) But we also call SEN-CHA(boiled tea), BAN-CHA(coarse tea), and MACCHA(powdered tea). It all depends on the preparation.
Coffee: I was bummed out when they did not serve Starbucks coffee nor good Japanese regular coffee on a plane I took last time, both on the way and on the way back. (What is wrong with AA!?)
Mr. Peanuts: I don't remember if Planters nuts were served with drinks on an airplane. In my mind, Planters' Mr. Peanuts is American peanuts. Especially this winter we received three cans of Planters nuts as a gift so I thought it was appropriate to have him in my image. Also in-flight drink service is pretty much no longer accompanied by nuts so to me it is becoming a myth. Myth=Mr. Peanuts. [One of my relatives told me about the growing concerns of peanuts allergy which was most likely a primary reason of why airlines had stopped serving peanuts. In Japan, peanuts allergy is not popular. In the mean time, I have just realized that the Planters became 100 years old in year 2006. Also, when I saw Tom Hanks movie "The Terminal (2004)" on TV the other night, I realized that the Tom Hanks character was carrying a Planters' old tin can which was an important object for him. 1/16]
Candy cane: Christmas candy IS candy cane. And Mr. Peanuts holds a...?
The in-flight service used to be very exciting. As was flying itself. Sadly our world has been moving away from peace and our personal experiences of flying also have been greatly influenced by it. May New Year let us work towards the peace, somehow.
Rosanjin's ceramic pot (for green tea): Rosanjin Kitaoji (1883-1959) was a ceramic artist in Japan who was famous for his unique eclectic style. "Born alone, will die alone; come alone, will be gone alone; study alone, walk alone." I love friendship yet as an artist his philosophy does sound “cool” to my ears… (-> More about Rosanjin) [After seeing this image, one of my Japanese friends pointed out that this pot looked quite docile as Rosanjin's style. She was right and I should have pointed out that this particular pot IS not Rosanjin's regular style. 1/16]
HIBACHI (HI-BACHI, fire-pot) brazier: In San Diego, we can survive without a heater during the winter. Though there have been some nights we have turned on our heater… It does get cold in San Diego, depending on where you live. However, San Diego is not as cold as Midwest nor Tokyo. San Diegans pay for the weather… (The economy here is expensive and compared to the Midwest, you get “more for less” with unfriendly cold attitudes...)
OSHIBORI (warm wet hand towel): Santa is holding a rolled white hand towel which is OSHIBORI. In Japan when you go to a restaurant, you are automatically served OSHIBORI and ice water. Well maybe not every restaurants but lots of them do. On an airplane, we usually get OSHIBORI service, too. How nice!
2. Coca-Cola and Santa: In the past, Coca-Cola used the Santa Claus image for their winter advertisement. Urban legend says that it is why Santa wears red and white clothes which are Coca-Cola's colors. Red and White in Japan is a auspicious color combination called KO-HAKU. Coincidence? Nowadays the white bear family has become Coca-Cola’s winter faces.
3. Health conscious Santa: In the year 2006 I saw and heard much news about obesity (and diabetes). NYC restaurants even said good-bye to the trans fat. I myself went on a diet and lost about 17.5lbs. Therefore, instead of drinking sugar loaded Coca-Cola like other regular soft drinks (though it is healthier for sure, even 100% fruits juice cannot avoid high sugar content), Santa is drinking Green Tea for a change. It is the healthiest of all the other drinks offered at this tea station. (Strong caffeine would not hurt him since he still needs to finish his trip to the kids' houses or to his home at North Pole!)
4. Santa Clause: This Santa Claus is a figurine...if you look closer. That means, he is not real. Is Santa real? He delivers gifts to the children around the world. If he were real, he would move so fast that we could not see him. As a figurine Santa, he is a symbol stopping time so that we cansee if he is real.
5. KASSOORO (runway): A road behind trees and a red pole represents runway for Santa. This path is also called SANDO which is a stone-paved path to the Shrine. It is like a runway of the shrine…
6. Raindeer traffic sign: If you go places where deer live, like the Midwest, you see the yellow signs of deer everywhere. Well, watch out for Santa's raindeer in this case.
7. Gold leaf background: Traditionally gold leaf background was used to depict imaginary mythical (heavenly) settings like lots of western and eastern religious paintings through out the history. Mystical images are like four seasons within one picture frame, with different scenes from one story depicted in one picture frame (same character appears many times), a picture of mythical animals, Buddha heavenly world, etc. Gold leafed space does not have conventional time or space lines. In Japan, gold leaf background was also used secular paintings. This is the concept my use of gold leaf/metal leaf for my artwork. On top of that it looks awesome! This is a dream image wherein Santa meets a Japanese woman and is drinking green tea between his deliveries in a Japan like place. Gold leaf background sounds right to me!
I hope you enjoyed my 2006-2007 winter holiday art (and my long explanation.)
May New Year brings you good fortune!
Best wishes,
Fujiko
(If you found any grammar or spelling mistakes, please do let me know!)
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