Sakurako Abe "Aohitogusa"

In Japanese mythology, humans are referred to as Aohitokusa, a term meaning “grass of the earth.” From the viewpoint of the gods who live in the heavens, it describes people living on the ground as beings that grow and flourish like grass. The grass in this expression refers to reeds, large perennial plants that grow near water and have long been used for roofing, fuel and fertilizer. Inspired by the strength and resilience contained in this single word, the artist chose Aohitokusa as the central theme of this exhibition. Bringing together motifs from Japanese mythology and traditions, the works explore themes including reeds and human life, the tale of a prince and a white boar, sacred rituals, the goddess of grain, the eight-headed serpent, votive tablets and pearls. This exhibition is a traveling presentation of a series first shown in Ise, Mie Prefecture, in spring. It also features new small-scale works created with the atmosphere of summer in Ginza in mind.