Marcus will be working in Japan this summer while staying as an Artist in Residence in Japan. Studio Kura’s Artist in Residence Program is a chance for domestic and international artists to draw inspiration from Japan’s rural environment.
The work developed in this residency researched the architectural traditions of the chrysanthemum, or kiku in Japanese, as well as other flower motifs in the form of drawings more broadly. It is a symbol of longevity, nobility, and dignity, and is often used to represent fall. The flower is featured on Japanese passports, in Shinto shrines, and in Japanese embassies abroad. It can also be seen in diplomatic buildings and other places that symbolize authority. The chrysanthemum's origins as a symbol date back to Emperor Go-Toba (1180–1239), who chose it as his personal emblem. This work documents the results of travel experiences throughout Japan, visiting buildings, and making subsequent drawings from those travels.
Process drawings in the studio.
In the Japan studio.
