"Fuji Masume".........."Dont Look Back"... latest Artwork....

"Fuji Masume"........ is the Wisteria Maiden.... from the Japanese Kabuki drama with the same name.......the story has captivated me......"she is depicted in a painting holding the wisteria branch until one day she becomes smitten with a young man and steps out of the painting in an effort to capture his attention. Unfortunately her attempts are futile. Her loves goes unrequited, and she sorrowfully steps back into the two dimensional world of her lonely painting, still holding her wisteria branch"........................

This was my initial inspiration when I started the painting but in truth it evolved because of my own thoughts running away with me............"Dont look back"......... is the real story......... the past can have memories good and bad and we need to move on and live in the present and look to the future. I love the symbolism of the wisteria plant and its other meanings.... wisteria can mean love lost as it does in the Japanese story but it also an incredibly durable vine able to live and flourish in harsh conditions......

There are other lovely and melancholic definitions of this flower........

And then there is the Greater Bindweed which is almost destroying and controlling the maiden. controlling her actions............

I have painted the image with a Japanese style..... linear and using black but the scenic reference is actual inspired from somewhere much closer to home.... It is the bridge at Allen Banks......... Does the maiden actually want to go back and cross the bridge?........... the bindweed will not allow this............

"Fuji Masumi"... "Dont look Back" © 2011 Acrylic/Gouache/Ink on Hot pressed paper.

56cm x 77cm (22" x 30.5")