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Watercolor and markers / rice paper 10x15cm
Drawing made in 2021.
In the West, bats are almost always frowned upon.
In Japan and other Asian countries, these bugs have symbolized good luck and happiness for centuries, influenced by China.
It appears that this sympathy for bats began in China because of the similarity in the pronunciation of the ideograms for bat and happiness..
In Japan these flying mammals have been extensively used in the used as a motif for all kinds of objectssuch as ceramics, sculpture, engravings, textile items such as kimonos, warlike objects such as the katana and the kabutoetc.
Unhappily to Since the 20th century, the bad reputation given to bats has also spread to the East.. Currently happens even more with the pandemic of coronavirus and the bad habit we have of looking for culprits instead of looking for solutions to our problems. Y this does nothing to help the preservation of so many species of bats and other endangered animals..
I wanted to share this little story and these little drawings from the Koumori Series for try to rescue the sympathy towards these animals that deserve our affection and respect, like all others.
The small bat drawn only in lines on the stamp of the Koumori series is inspired by a bat from an engraving by Hiroshigewho was a great artist of the Ukiyo-e and also a great observer of nature.
Many fans of the Ukiyo-e will be able to identify the stamp bat, as Hiroshige is quite well known. For me this is a way to pay tribute to him, and quoting here his print and his work is also a way to get his work to people who don't know him yet.
I only make a single tattoo with each drawing I make. Although I can always prepare a new one, I do not repeat them on the skin.
I ask other tattoo artists who may use this drawing as a reference for tattoos not to copy it as is. The exclusivity of the drawings adds value to the tattoos and the production of new drawings improves the quality of our work.
