Turning Japanese > Kanzashi

Kanzashi (black w/red)
polychromed wood, paper
24" w x 20" h x 2" d
2006
Kanzashi (w/green)
polychromed wood
34" h 9" w x 2" d
2006
Kanzashi (red)
polychromed wood
40" w x 20" h x 2" d
2006
Kanzashi I
polychromed wood, newsprint
45" w x 30" h x 2"d
2006
Kanzashi (green)
polychromed wood
50" h x 15" w x 4" d
2006
Kanzashi (gold)
60" h x 4" w x 1.5" d
2006
Kanzashi (prong)
polychromed wood
65" h x 8" w x 3" d
2006
Kanzashi - Prong with Gold
polychromed jelutong, steel
2008
Kanzashi - Red/Green
60" x 12" x 2"
2008
Kanzashi - Nailed Window
60" x 12" x 2"
2008
Red Prong
carved and polychromed wood
60" h x 15" w x 2" d
2009
Kanzashi - Vertical Comb
polychromed jelutong, paper
60"h x 20"w x 2" d
2009

Kanzashi are hair ornaments worn by geisha and also by women participating in formal activities, such as tea ceremonies or in weddings. These forms range from combs, to long picks.

The series are oversized versions of Kanzashi, the smallest is 30" tall and the largest is 80". The taller pieces are all 60" high, which is exactly my height. While these are not self-portraits, they are intended to be figurative.

All are made of carved and polychromed Jelutong. Some of these pieces have paper collaged on the teeth - the prongs have wall-mounted steel bases.



All photos by Larry Stanley