<b>TOKAKUJI</b> / Clifton Karhu1978<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

Located in Tokyo, Tokaku-ji is known for its energetic healing properties. As you approach the main structure there are dozens of stone Buddhist deities covered in red paper. It is believed that fastening a red paper onto the statue, in the same location where one is injured or ill, will heal the mality.  

In this print, Karhu elects to depict the temple in the evening rain from outside looking in. The colors are ones of growth. Various shades of green overtake the design—showcasing within it bursts of purple as if blooming. It’s curious to ponder why the artist chose to showcase the temple in this setting. The rain does strike as a purifying force. Perhaps the artist produced this design as a talisman for healing. Or possibly, Karhu is recounting a trip he made to alleviate an issue he might have been having. Regardless, the print leaves us with a serene feeling, where the rain falls and the green simply grows--reminding us that even in simple moments, the now heals.

Connoisseur's Note

This impression is in an exceedingly fine state of preservation. The print’s colors are as fresh and vivid as the day the work was executed. It’s quite rare to find oversized prints, such as this one, in excellent condition, as the far majority of these prints suffered from poor framing practices and light exposure.