“Yakuza Series” (1998) – Bruce Gilden
November 18, 2008
Mayumi Lake
November 13, 2008
My Idol (Imaginary Alice #0761), 2006
As a Japanese woman who has been culturally conditioned to contain rather than reveal, I am interested in uncovering my own identity by aggressively evoking emotional reactions from my viewers. – Mayumi Lake
Mayumi Lake is an artist from Osaka, Japan who currently works & lives in Chicago. Having lived in Osaka myself for 2 years, I can identify with her work and really like the ideas flowing in her head. She explores levels of society that I roam in and wonder about. I appreciate her ability to express her personal sides outwardly, not to mention her technical skills. She definitely is someone who motivates me to push limits and experiment with my own mind. I’m excited to follow her career. http://www.mayumilake.com/Main_Frameset.html
I learned about Mayumi from Maki Terashita, another young artist from Osaka who is also working and living in Chicago. She’s a cool girl and a very good photographer.
Xaymaca Reggae Bar – Osaka, Japan
June 7, 2008
One of my first hangouts in Osaka when I lived there from 12/05 to 10/07, great Reggae, especially 70’s/early 80’s Roots focus. Osaka has some sweet Reggae spots.
With the crew of Xaymaca
Immortal Poetess – Ono no Komachi
June 5, 2008
This picture was drawn by Kikuchi Yosai（菊池容斎） who was a painter in Japan.
Ono no Komachi (小野 小町 or おののこまち) (c. 825 — c. 900) was a famous Japanese waka poet, one of the Rokkasen — the Six best Waka poets of the early Heian period. She was noted as a rare beauty; Komachi is a symbol of a beautiful woman in Japan. She is also numbered as one of the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals.
On such a night as this
When no moon lights your way to me,
I wake, my passion blazing,
My breast a fire raging, exploding flame
While within me my heart chars
