by Eric Jung

Artwork Description

Mishima

100.0 x 100.0 cm

Before and during my student years in Tokyo I read some of Yukio Mishima's books and like many others I liked them. He was the most famous writer in Japan at that time, probably the most well-known person even outside the cultural world and popular in spite of his politically incorrect views, the reason why he never got the Nobel Prize he was nominated for three times. His ritual suicide by "seppuku" or harakiri stunned not only me but also the Japanese. I had for some time decided to make his portrait, one that mainly the Japanese would understand. It took me a few more books, a biography and watching several interviews before the picture formed in my mind and I was ready to paint it. His "death poem", copied from the original, and his last note found on his desk are included. Death poem: A storm blows in the night, I want to be the first to fall, to the world and to man, ahead of time. Falling is the only way to be a flower. Desk note: If life is limited I want to live forever The mask is a Atsumori mask used in a Noh theatre drama. The Eurasian Goldfinch is a symbol of resurrection. The Spider lily a symbol of death. The notes from the Bach song; "Komm, süßer Tod, komm sel’ge Ruh! ...... Komm, führe mich in Friede,

Artwork Details

Medium: Painting Acrylic

Genre: Portrait