ICONS OF THE RISING SUN (BOUNTY OF THE OCEAN)

 

Icons of the Rising Sun: Bounty of the Ocean, acrylic on canvas, 2024. 16.5" X 24"

This 4-part series commemorates the 70th anniversary of Japan's beloved Godzilla franchise and fuses the fame of the so-called "King of the Monsters" with the popularity of Japanese culture. Both these icons have become extremely well-known worldwide. 

Part 4 of the series focuses on the Reiwa era, which in the Godzilla franchise encompasses the mid-2010s to the present. The painting depicts Godzilla in its appearance from the Monsterverse, a series of American-made Godzilla films made in this era since 2014, which is an era of rapid spread of international popularity for the franchise. In the painting, Godzilla emerges from the ocean with fish jumping out of the water including tuna and saba/blue mackerel. These fish, known for being key ingredients in seafood such as sushi, sashimi and grilled fish, are among those that made Japan known as the "seafood capital of the world". The Japanese fishing industry, represented by the fishing boat, is one of the world's largest. The boat may also be a reference to the Daigo Fukuryū Maru, a Japanese tuna fishing boat that survived a nuclear fallout from the United States' Castle Bravo thermonuclear weapon test in 1954, which became the inspiration for the creation of the Godzilla franchise the same year (the Castle Bravo tests were referenced in the Monsterverse series). A whale's tail is also seen, referring to Japan's whaling industry and part of Godzilla's name (Godzilla's Japanese name, Gojira, is made out of combining gorilla and the Japanese word for whale, kujira).

Flying above Godzilla are red-crowned cranes, which are a popular symbol in Japan as a symbol of good fortune, longevity, happiness, and peace, and the mascot of Japan Airlines. It may also be a reference to Japan Airlines planning a Godzilla-themed art exhibition in mid-2025.



Part 1: Power of Umami

Part 2: Guardian of Tradition

Part 3: Hero of the Millennium

Part 4: Bounty of the Ocean

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