“Genji”
Acrylic on Canvas – January 2017

This painting’s title comes from a dual meaning that I feel have similar feelings. One is the Genji – a character in the game Overwatch that has been nearly killed by his brother and has to find a new way and a better reason to live (albeit in an omnic body). The other Genji being the one year era in Japanese history. That’s right, there was a one-year era. I find it somewhat hard to believe but it was a very bloody year that ran from March 1864 to April 1865. Thus, it’s spring and so a blooming tree seems appropriate. The Genji era was intended to only mark a new cycle in the Chinese zodiac, but in that year the Ikedaya incident (where masterless samurai fought against the Shinsengumi or the military government’s special police force), a major politician named Sakuma Shozan (who created the first Japanese telegraph & electricity machines) was assasinated, and the Shimonoseki Campaign (where the Japanese naval forces fought Great Britian, France, the Netherlands and the USA fought to control the Shimonoseki Straights of Japan).

Basically this is a painting depicting my feelings about going into a period of time which I feel like we are struggling and maybe taking a step back in American life, and I feel like there is going to be bloodshed and sadness before it is all over with. However, I will always have hope, because as flowers bloom in spring, so life will continue on and a new – hopefully better and more enlightened era will emerge.

This artwork is a one of a kind piece hand painted by Stephanie Ishler of Hallyu Back. All artwork is for sale unless otherwise specified. If you are interested in purchasing this original painting, contact us here!

In addition, you can also inquire about artwork by emailing this address: contact@hallyuback.com ^^