Hokkaido 2010

2010 Wood carved Bear

During the first half of the twentieth century, severe economic straits forced Ainu carvers to carve bear and other figurative art for the tourist trade. This was deeply disturbing to a culture whose spiritual beliefs with few exceptions did not allow the depiction of life forms. Today, despite more than a century of social discrimination, economic hardship, and pressure for assimilation, a remarkable resurgence of Ainu culture is taking place.
Read more about the Ainu here 2 3 4

Thanks to my friend Hugo who went on a field study trip to Hokkaido!
Received: Spring 2013