Samurai a caballo

The central figure is a samurai on horseback, depicted with a blend of solemnity and theatricality. His shining armor and richly decorated garments evoke the ideal of noble warriorhood, while his upright posture and control over the horse emphasize a sense of authority. The painterly treatment — loose, textured, and full of movement — fuses traditional Japanese visual language with a contemporary approach.
Embroidered into the sleeve of the kimono is a historical scene: the assassination of Inejirō Asanuma, leader of the Japanese Socialist Party, who was killed in 1960 during a televised debate by the 17-year-old  Otoya Yamaguchi. By embedding this violent event from the 20th century as a decorative motif within the samurai’s attire, the artist introduces a critical tension. The idealized image of the warrior is confronted by the enduring presence of political violence in modern Japanese history.
 
120 x 120 cm
oil on canvas
2024