That's an art I've made for Brazil's Seinenkai Itajaí.
It was a new group of young people inside the city's japanese community,
who needed an art to represent their leadership, courage and love for their ancestors land.
Myself being a japanese-brazilian made it very exciting to discover more about japanese boats, art, and history.
That was the result :)
They asked for an art with sea waves, a boat on the top of a wave - to represent leadership and courage - and a red sun, to refer to the Japanese flag.
As I researched Japanese boats (which I knew none about lol), I discovered that the Sabani is a very traditional boat, sailed by several people at a time, that was used long ago by the villagers to fish, bringing food to the community, and until today it's a tradition that keeps many people motivated to keep the connection to that past alive.
And as I looked at the Itajaí's Japanese Community events and courses, I figured this had everything to do with how they influence the city, bringing Japanese culture, food and music for all, while in the inside it's connecting generations, keeping the culture and knowledge alive, maintaining the young people connection to their ancestors, and as a consequence connecting myriads of cultures Brazil has brought togheter, to the Japanese community as well.
I hope you liked it!
:)
suu.saemi@gmail.com
