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Journey to Japan: Master Visual Storyteller Dawn Mostow 

Review by Elizabeth Meggs

A fantasy of Japan was brought to life by artist Dawn Mostow in her 
exhibit "Densetsu: Legends of Japan" at Pratt Institute's Steuben 
Gallery from March 24 - 30, 2008. Not only did the exhibit include 
digital chromogenic prints (c-prints) that were carefully crafted 
pastiches of image sources, but it also presented the kimonos and 
props used to create those images. The four prints were based on 
Japanese legends about the four seasons: Summer: The Kappa; Autumn: 
The Fox Wedding; Winter: Amaterasu Omikami; and Spring: Red Devil and 
Blue Devil. Mostow photographed herself in costume posing as all of 
the characters in the four legends, then digitally altered and 
collaged these photos with a range of images, from a scanned 
handkerchief to a photo of cherry blossoms found on the internet. A 
brief written description of each legend, presented with Mostow's 
digital illustrations, provided ample fodder for a fantastic 
suspension of disbelief and a mental journey to an enchanting and 
ancient mythical Japan.

Mostow's craft on every level should be lauded, from her costume-
making and styling, her photographs, her performances as the model 
for a huge variety of characters, her seamless digital manipulation, 
and her gallery presentation. The work possesses the sleak refinement 
of high fashion imagery along with the humor, playfulness and drama 
that recall the historical precedent of fantasy illustration from the 
past, from Pieter Brueghel and Hieronymus Bosch, William Blake and 
Albrecht Durer, to Arthur Rackham and Maurice Sendak, as well as a 
huge precedent in Japanese art itself. The digital and photographic 
mediums also nod toward cinematic and video game references, as well 
as the performative self-portraiture work of artist Cindy Sherman.

In the gallery, the kimonos stood and hung with stunning 
tangible presence, as if the characters wearing them had just slipped 
away for a moment. Mostow's images show a deep empathy for the 
characters of the legends, with expressions and stances perfected for 
each story. Surely Mostow's experience living in Japan for three 
years and fluency in the Japanese language brought a level of 
authenticity and understanding to her research and work for this 
exhibit. Mostow has mastered the art of visual storytelling in this 
recent work, which may now be viewed online at www.dawnamatrix.com

 

 

 

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