WK4-Art Conversations-Jean Iwohara

Exhibit Information:
Artist: Jean Iwohara
Exhibition: Glass Eyes
Media: paintings, sculpting
Gallery: LBSU School of Art, De Maxine Merlino Gallery
Website: https://jeaniwohara.weebly.com/
Instagram: Instagram.com/jelly.jean

This past week I had the opportunity to speak with Jean Iwohara, an undergraduate CSULB student in the School of Art, specifically the Illustration program. Besides illustrating, Jean loves to sculpt with clay as well, both of which were shown through her featured pieces in her exhibit. The two primary techniques she utilizes in her works are watercolor and gouache. Iwohara aims to create a, “sense of wonder and fantastical narrative through her work”.

This painting is titled “Will You Save Me?” and was made using water colors. The shapes featured in this consist mostly of squares and rectangles, the majority of it having edges and such in a blocky manner. Also, the lines are straight and meant to be fine tuned. The colors displayed are mainly darker shades, such as blues and purples, that contrast nicely upon the white cloud (which has different shades incorporated as well in the shadings). In essence, the colors could be described as muted pastel colors.

The exhibit itself has an anxiety theme and considers the different internal and external forces that explain that energy. Upon speaking with Jean Iwhhara, she revealed the ideas she explored in this specific painting. The title “Will You Save Me?” is meant to be a question for a high power, or which ever god one prays to, and therefore this painting is based on religious anxiety. This is hinted at by the heavenly space that is created by the clouds and blue sky in the background. It questions if their higher power will pull through and answer their calling or pleads. She also clarified that the painting takes on more of a Buddhist perspective, not a Christian one, and the multiple arms are meant to represent a level below Buddha. Lastly, the pose itself of the girl is meant to be constricting and anxious.

All in all, this painting was the one that stood out to me because of the questioning title and the intense components in it. After revealing that it was meant to question religion, I was able to relate the piece to myself. Most people question their beliefs and religion at one point in their lives. Analyzing the painting myself, I found an interest in the artist’s choice to illustrate chains to hold the cloud, instead of rather ropes or some other fiber. I took the chains as yet another form of constricting the girl in the painting, as if the heavens have the capacity to hold down and control someone in terms of their faith and hopes. In addition, I noticed the girl’s hair is long and at some points wraps around her arms and wrists. I interpreted this as the idea that your thoughts, especially concerning doubts and uncertainties, can control yourself–almost as if youre a slave to your own mind and your life is ran by your negative thoughts and anxieties. Even the expression on the girl’s face seems to be lost in her own thoughts, as if her eyes are glazed over and she has no grip on reality. Each of the ideas I have presented here I definitely relate to, especially since I went through the process of making my first holy communion and confirmation in my Catholic church and had often found myself questioning the lessons and information we received throughout. It is natural to question your beliefs, and anxiety towards the thought of a higher power or afterlife are apart of that.