Visual art transcends cultures

My son is obsessed with Japanese art and culture. I don’t know what it is about this culture that is so fascinating, but it’s been his growing interest and study for the last few years and it doesn’t seem to be waning.

My son is not alone. There are many young people here in Alaska who share this same intrigue for Japanese art and expression. I’ve had students who’ve gone on school trips to Japan, who study Japan as a hobby, who speak Japanese (somewhat). I must admit, there is something mysterious about Japanese culture — which is why so many people, regardless of their ages, are actively pursuing varied Japanese studies.

Megan Cline, for example, is a local who was born in Alaska, lives with her parents in Palmer and paints visual kei musicians. Visual kei is a style of music in Japan, or should I say a style of dress for musicians, that is an often flamboyant, slightly androgynous, and eye-catching medium of expression. It may sound familiar to you, depending on your musical interest. It’s similar to David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Jethro Tull and countless other musicians who have embraced the Western style called “glam rock” — although, visual kei is its own thing, with its adherents striving to create their own expressions using a medium of dress. To many people, it’s an inspiring art form. People like Megan Cline have been so inspired as to paint images of these musicians — to make it the subject of their interest. It’s of special interest to me since it’s of such interest to my son.

My son spends more and more time studying Japanese art — mostly manga, which is Japan’s answer to comic books — and mimicking their styles of drawing, filling reams of paper with increasingly accurate illustrations. As his interest grows, along with his skill, I hope that he will grow into other forms of Japanese art, while also growing his interest in art as a whole — an expression of humanity, with different vibrations, streams of thought and consciousness. I don’t really care where he first finds that interest, I just want to nurture that in him, knowing that it will grow into something more should he follow that path his whole life.

Then my son and I will share some common ground, coming from different directions.

That’s why I’m going to take my son to Palmer this month, to Madd Matters gallery, so he can see this display of visual kei, which focuses on Japanese musicians.

Since music is an area of art where I found my first interest, it’s comforting to know that his artistic path, at some point down the road, may merge with my own. Thanks to Megan Cline and Madd Matters.

Make-a-Scene!

Josh Fryfogle is a local professional musician who owns 212 Music Group and operates Make-A-Scene in Wasilla. He writes about music every Friday.