Watercolor, gold leaf and cut paper, 2021.

18” x 24”

Original available

The Tanuki, or raccoon dog, is from Japan. The tanuki is a shape-shifter, mischief-maker, and enjoys playing his belly like a drum. In pop culture, you can find the tanuki in Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and in Studio Ghibli films.

Trickster tales suggest the conditions of life and spirit, the acquisition of knowledge and power, and how to survive. Many of these legends are hundreds of years old - told through stories that allowed people to be together, learn, and pass the time. Tricksters teach the art of surviving and triumphing in the face of inhospitable environments, and remind us that sometimes we must do the unexpected in order to succeed.

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