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Challenge #2 - The Great Wave off Kanagawa

Inspiration for the second challenge came from visiting Katsushika Hokusai Museum in Obuse, a little way out from Nagano. Enchanted by Hokusai’s Ukiyo-e prints I could not miss this opportunity seeing where he spent his last few years.

The museum set in a ‘quaint’ village off the beaten track where one can enjoy the museum in total serenity viewing some of his early works through to his later pieces. After enjoying the exhibition of course I had to stop for coffee and famous chestnut cake. This area is famous for growing chestnuts, hence the ‘must have’.

Unfortunately his most renowned work, which I am sure, you all know, was not on display but that did not mean I could take a little artist licence for inspiration. I set the theme ‘Interpret The Great Wave off Kanagawa’. In hindsight and seeing my students work I think this is quite a difficult subject interpret even though there is a lot of movement and line work in the Ukiyo-e. Well done to my students for tackling a challenging theme.

Later in my trip I had the wonderful opportunity to visit More Gallery Tokyo where there was an extensive exhibition of Katsushika Hokusai and I did get to see The Great Wave off Kanagawa,

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