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Samurai Kimono Artist
Wednesday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Lahaina Galleries, The Shops at Wailea

July 07, 2005

[ART] Hisashi Otsuka grew up learning the principles of Zen and martial arts. Thus, he learned balance. He also learned how to paint in a markedly disciplined apprenticeship ritual reminiscent of the Karate Kid. Okay, so he learned precision. His mentor was a famous Japanese kimono designer who instructed Otsuka to repeatedly paint kimono patterns on paper and transfer them onto fabric. Got it—he knows aesthetics and color. Combined with a scholastic knowledge of Japanese history, and the exposure to Western art after a move to Hawai’i in 1975, and you get an exalted blending of cultures. Yeah, the guy knows art. And in fact, Otsuka’s dramatic use of colors brings traditional kabuki figures, warriors, ukiyo-e women and calligraphy a vibrant modern twist. [SAMANTHA CAMPOS]