As I've mentioned before, one perk of working in the world of advertising and publishing (particularly if one loves paper) is to receive well-made paper sample books, also called catalogs.
Paper catalogs can often be inspiring because they're vehicles by which paper companies, design groups, illustrators, photographers and printers all show off their best work. The catalog above, from Georgia-Pacific Papers, also doubled as a calendar for the year 2000 — pretty clever when one considers that the client (myself) would carry around Georgia-Pacific's paper samples all year long.
The calendar featured the distinctive paintings of Joel Nakamura, who created more than a dozen works based on world mythology. His paintings are on metal, with richly ornamented borders that serve as frames. Here are some of Nakamura's paintings, along with text by Michael Koster:
The Egyptian legend of the sun. Each day at dawn the sun was born from the sky. He attained maturity by mid-day and aged by evening. At nightfall he entered the underworld. Each day, month and year, renewed the creation of the world.
The Japanese legend of the creation of land and sea. Kaumi created an enormous ocean resting on the back of a giant trout. He sent a bird to form areas of dry land by beating its wings and trampling the mud with its feet.
The African legend of fire. In African legend, the ostrich was the source of fire, keeping the fire under its wing when not in use. Mantis tricked the ostrich into spreading its wings and quickly grabbed the fire from the ostrich. That is why the ostrich never attempted to fly. Humans then tricked Mantis to obtain fire.
The Australian legend of rivers and mountains. The curving meandering of the Rainbow snake created rivers and mountains. Aborigines believed he was the spirit of creation and fertility.
The legend from India of the Lotus flower. The Hindu god Vishnu dreamed of the universe as a Lotus flower. Likening the solar matrix to a wheel, the expanded Lotus flower forms the rosette and the sun wheel of the perpetual cycles of existence.
The Navajo legend of the pollen path. To the Navajo, pollen is sacred. Pollen represents life. To walk in beauty on the pollen path is to walk in accord with all of nature. The path is often represented in the form of a spiral.
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Hello Mark, Nakamura has a remarkable mastery of color, line and motion. They remind me of some of the "cosmic" art of the 1960's.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure of my favorite (I like them all), but perhaps the Indian lotus flower.
Hello, Jim,
DeleteThe legend of the lotus flower is my favorite illustration, too. Maybe that's because Nakamura has incorporated a mandala, and it was in India that the mandala originated.
Fascinating yet slightly disturbing images. Again, you have introduced me to illustrations and an artist unknown to me. One more thank you added to all the other thank yous. Gina
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - One thing that draws me to Nakamura's work is his use of hieroglyphic background textures. He uses symbology at the macro and micro level in his paintings, and I think for that reason he's an artist who might have appealed to Carl Jung.
DeleteDear Mark,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful set of paintings-- and they came to you in such an interesting way! I think that the myths of the world's cultures are so fascinating, and a perfect subject for artists! Having such stories in one's subconscious makes for a richer life experience, I think. My son is working on project along these lines: as a special 'side project', he's creating a comic book about Vishnu's many battles for his Eastern Traditions class, and the stories and characters involved are more fantastical than anything in a super-hero movie. He's having a ball with it.
This was a wonderful post and a treat during a stressful day. Thank you, Mark!
Warm regards,
Erika
Dear Erika,
DeleteI have retained a number of paper catalogs for the sheer pleasure of their inventiveness. They tend to be timeless. I also have an inventory of 1950s paper advertising which I enjoy equally because it IS so dated.
Your son's project sounds wonderful! One aspect of delving into other cultures and traditions is that it can inform our own, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed listening to Joseph Campbell's series so much.
I'm glad this little spot can be a haven from stress — that's probably the highest compliment I could receive!
Best wishes,
Mark
Dear Mark - the vibrancy from these illustrations is captivating - each one exquisite.
ReplyDeleteI am always reminded when I see legends from around the world of how the human brain is so complex and unique at devising solutions to explain creativity and existence.
Dear Rosemary - All of these legends are great storytelling, and one can easily imagine people sitting around fires, listening to the weavers of the tales. (I always enjoyed hearing how the Greek and Roman gods intrigued against their own kind.)
DeleteYou and I do share a passion for paper, but I am not crazy about the artist. :) I do appreciate the style, just not so much the subject matter!
ReplyDeleteDear Theresa - More than anything else, I'm liking the hieroglyphic-patterned backgrounds. I see it occasionally in the work of other artists and keep making mental notes to give the style a try.
Deletehttp://www.cv.vic.gov.au/stories/william-barak/5633/untitled-(ceremony)-painting-by-william-barak/
ReplyDeleteAnother image for you Mark, I hadnt heard of this Aboriginal artist who painted this rainbow serpent in the 19th Century
I was unfamiliar with Nakamura's work until your post, Mark. Exciting stuff, full of power, movement and great color. Thanks for the introduction.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose a favorite, I'd pick the Navajo pollen design. But in truth, I like them all.
Hi, Yvette - In the Navajo legend, I like the layering of images — hand, pictographs, spiral, pathseekers — it's quite a composition . . .
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