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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Kabuki Kitties



I recently read up about Kabuki.

Kabuki (歌舞伎 kabuki) is the highly stylized classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing (歌), dance (舞), and skill (伎). Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as "the art of singing and dancing." These are, however, ateji characters which do not reflect actual etymology. The kanji of 'skill', however, generally refers to a performer in kabuki theatre. Since the word kabuki is believed to derive from the verb kabuku, meaning "to lean" or "to be out of the ordinary", kabuki can be interpreted as "avant-garde" or "bizarre" theatre.[1] The expression kabukimono (歌舞伎者) referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed and swaggered on a street.

Thus I was so thrilled when I found these Kabuki hello kitty charms (authentic Sanrio ones!) and made them into necklaces. I love hello kitties especially the specially made ones that pays homage to history and culture.

What do you think? What inspires your work?

1 comment:

Plantress said...

I am strangely attracted to these Kitties. Their little blank faces seem full of hidden wisdom.