country have been an endless inspiration for Japanese painter Toba Mika
who is well-known for her Katazome, or stencil dyed paintings.
Most of her work is of landscapes in Vietnam and over the past 16
years, she has created almost 100 paintings depicting the country, which
she has a special attachment to.
“When I think of
Vietnam, I become inspired, so when I see changes in the country I want
to bring it to life in my work,” the Professor at the Kyoto Seika
University of the Arts told the daily newspaper Thanh Nien (Young
People).
There are no people in Mika’s paintings,
but Mika said “I see the scenery’s soul and personality like human
beings. Some of the landscapes have existed for hundreds of years and
witnessed the lives and fates of many people. Every scene has its own
soul.”
Through Mika’s paintings, people can see
images of Vietnam development, from once having ancient streets with
old, moss covered houses and high-rise buildings to streets adorned
with advertising.
Toba Mika has visited almost
every region in Vietnam and she paints to record the scenery as well
as preserve Japan ’s traditional art of Katazome, which has existed
since the 12 th century.
Mika has recently been in
Vietnam to attend the exhibition “ Nara and Hanoi – connecting
eternal capital cities” which is showcasing her paintings of Hanoi .
Held at the Temple of Literature and the
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum from December 6-25, the exhibition aims
to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 1,300
years of the ancient capital of Nara of Japan./.
