The first thing that comes to mind when you hear Kamisaka Sekka is the puppy, Inukoro from Momoyogusa (Flowers of a Hundred Worlds).
When I encountered this work, I could tell it was a white and round form and, while I couldn’t even tell what kind of creature it was, its soft curves made me think it was cute and somehow soothing.

In writing about the work, “Otogoze”, I was struck by Kamisaka Sekka’s commitment to curves.
Not only the flora and fauna, as well as the animals and humans, but also the clothes and buildings were very rounded.
In particular, the work “Shibaraku” depicting Ichikawa Danjuro (a character Ebizo Ichikawa performed at the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony), has a large square family crest called Mimasumon, and the linear costume representing strength is very impressive, but the family crest and costume in contrast are entirely round. It was also interesting to see how even Danjuro’s character was so casual and candid.

This “Otogoze” seems to portray the role of an unattractive woman in Otafuku and Kyogen. Since it leans towards Kyogen theater, I feel that it is a little more comical and friendly than the Noh performances.
In addition, the silhouettes of the Otafuku and Noh masks have the exact kind of curvy motifs Sekka is good at. The sitting woman’s posture emphasizes her roundness, and the fluffy coat she wears creates a curvy form, giving the impression of a feminine figurine.
Her round feet that peeks out, her soft expression, and even the design of her kimono such as the shippou pattern are drawn focusing on round shape, which gives this work a particular charm.

Kamisaka Sekka was a painter born during the Bakumatsu period and active until the early Showa period, however, compelled by her passion for Rinpa school founder, Hon’ami Koetsu and the Rinpa school, she also founded the “Koetsukai” group.
There is also a red raku teacup called “Otogoze” designed by Hon’ami Koetsu, which is an important cultural property, and this too is round and curvy, which gives it a certain cute, softness.

Mademoiselle Yulia
Mademoiselle Yulia rose to prominence as a DJ and singer in her teens. In recent years, she has grown widely active as a kimono stylist, model, columnist, awards judge, and has become the face of numerous global campaigns of widely known brands. Yulia graduated from Kyoto University of the Arts in 2020 and styled the visual campaign for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition, Kimono -Kyoto to Catwalk-.
https://yulia.tokyo/