Three Hanagasa Dancers at International Street - Original Artwork - Limited Edition of 1

Hanagasa, literally "flower headwear," is one of the best known cultural symbols of Okinawa. This large shade hat is designed to resemble a hibiscus flower, native to Ryukyu, with five red petals, and a yellowish stem in the middle. The sides are decorated with blue and silver waves, representing the ocean that surrounds the Ryukyu Islands. International Street, or Kokusai Dori, in the heart of downtown Naha, is known for its cosmopolitan scene and regularly features traditional Ryukyu cultural displays. Ryukyu, an independent nation until 1879, is a Pacific Island culture mixed with Chinese, Southeast Asian, Japanese, and Korean influence that native Ryukyuans adapted and modified over the course of thousands of years. The result is a unique culture unlike that of anywhere else in the world. Today, due to over a century of foreign colonization, Ryukyu culture is under threat. Ryuyku Impressionism utilizes vibrant colors and focuses on scenes depicting life, and life in motion, in Ryukyu. In contrast to the stillness of photographs, Ryukyu Impressionism has an emphasis on short brush strokes, ripples, blurs, and other distortions that create a feeling of fluidity and movement within an image, allowing viewers to feel as if they might look to their left or right and watch the scene continue to unfold. The goal of this style is to capture moments that accurately depict life in Ryukyu, while leaving room for the mind of the viewer to wander, explore, and imagine what might happen next in any given painting. Rob Kajiwara is a native Ryukyuan, and has roots in both Okinawa and Hawaii.

Mixed Media:Digital on Canvas

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:1

Size:14 W x 13 H x 0.3 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.