As in the past, Okinawa’s distinctive and vibrant artistic tradition continues to thrive.
When I first saw Harry Masuda’s shirt I did not give it much attention thinking it was just another Hawaiian aloha shirt, but when I took a closer look I realized that it was quite different in style and design. His girl friend, Shiori Yamauchi, also studying at the East-West Center, had just bought the shirt at a museum in Okinawa. It was only after asking more questions that I learned about Bokunen Naka and about Okinawa’s thriving contemporary artistic tradition.
Bokunen Naka was born on the island of Izena (Iheya) in 1953 – also the birthplace of King Sho En (1415). As a child he always carried a sketchbook with him and made sketches of Okinawa’s creatures and landscape. At the time he thought he would grow up to be a carpenter or fisherman. One of his teachers recognized his talent and recommended he attend an art-based high school on the island of Okinawa. Bokunen Naka gained recognition from his wood block prints.
He describes his wood block print:
Once the woodblock is finished, I spread black ink on the surface of the wood, and then press it against the paper. The black and white print is a mirror image of the carving in the wood. I then turn the paper over and paint in the colors on the back of the paper. This reverse coloring technique gives the process its name: uratesaishoku.
Recommended Readings
Woodblock Artist Naka Bokunen – 10 years on
Iheya Island/Izena Island – Okinawa Island Guide