araki-cho (2019)

Private collection

This small acrylic work was based on a photo I snapped hastily while roaming Araki-cho, a bar district of Tokyo, at night with a friend. It was my first time seeing a travelling shamisen player, a once popular form of entertainment that has since nearly disappeared off the streets. She visited several bars, playing old tunes at the request of the patrons, who then tipped her in gratitude. I particularly enjoyed painting the small details of this bar scene, especially with the contrast between the cooler lighting of the kitchen and the warmer lighting of the bar itself.