80 English Explanation

Ritsurin Garden is a daimyo garden established in the early Edo period and developed by successive lords of the Takamatsu domain. Its undulating terrain around a large pond depicts mountains and valleys, designed for strolling. The pines, motifs of this work, have grown into various shapes over their long history, each displaying its own character.

A Bekuhai is a sake cup with a rounded bottom that cannot be set down while filled with sake. The artist, who enjoys sake, had long wished to create one. For the base, thick acrylic board was used, with a pine motif painted using the Kinma technique. Lines were carved, then filled first with red pigment and then black. The transparent acrylic allows the red to show through from the back, creating a beautiful effect.