Two hare* greet each other while frying through cosmos on a shikishi created by Hirokazu Kosaka (*hare is Latin language in origin)
The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center presents the 13th Annual Shikishi Exhibition at Doizaki Gallery in the JACCC Building, 244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 from January 2 through February 27. Admission free.
Gallery Hour: Tuesday – Friday, 12 – 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 11 am – 4 pm.
Shikishi are Japanese congratulatory cards of standard size, which has been used in Japan since the twelfth century for painting and writing poetry.
Today, these shikishi are given as gifts to mark a memorable or special occasion.
In 1988, Hirokazu Kosaka, JACCC’s Artistic Director, fused traditional and contemporary notions of the shikishi by asking over 500 people to celebrate the New Year expressing themselves using shikishi board.
Participants included celebrities, local personalities, politicians, artists, priests, children, writers, and community members.
The outcome was an intriguing and amazingly eclectic exhibit of shikishi art. Some were simple while others elaborate and colorful. Some were even fashioned into freestanding sculptures.
Based on the Hatsu-Dayori (First Letters of the New Year) theme, this year's colorful shikishi exhibition includes former Prime Ministers of Japan and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
On opening day, Sunday January 2, viewers will enjoy amazake (sweet sake), mochi sweets and will be able to pull their New Year's fortune from the omikuji box.
The 13 Shikishi Exhibition in Little Tokyo (JACCC)
