Exhibition Celebrating the Publication of “The Story of the Kaki Tree”
Guest Artist Workshop No.3
Let’s Make “Kaki Tree Picture-Card Show”
By Anken Kidani
Mr. Anken Kidani is a member of the Kaki Tree Project Executive Committee and the creator of the well-known picture-card show “Kaki Tree Parent and Child.” The workshop started with the the picture-card show performance by the artist himself. Then, each participant of the workshop chose a scene and drew that scene to make a picture-card show together.
Participants of the workshop ranged in age from kindergarten, elementary school, university to adults. Small children seemed to be a bit nervous before the workshop because they did not know what was about to start; however, they were drawn to once Mr. Kidani’s performance had begun. When he performed the scene of the song “let’s draw, let’s draw,” they crapped their hands and laughed, so it became more relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Then, they chose the scene and started making the picture-card show.
After receiving the copy of the picture cards, they first placed tracing paper over them and traced the outline of the Mr. Kidani’s drawing. In this way, people who were not used to drawing could also take part in, and it would help keep consistency in the entire picture-cards, as well. When they finished tracing, they pasted the paper on a sheet of thick white paper and added colors and drawings. The result was simply amazing. Although the outline was transferred from Mr. Kidani’s work, the process afterward had brought out each participant’s original expressions; one added tinkling expression to the kaki tree that had recovered and become well. One colored Dr. Ebinuma’s hair fresh green as same as the seedlings and the other added a rainbow in the sky when the seedling was born.
After they finished drawing, each in turn read the scene out loud in front of others. When they drew and read the scene themselves, it seemed to bring more significance to them, and each looked as if he or she had thrown him/herself completely into the character. Although each participant worked on the scene independently, each picture connected to another when they read one after another. At the end of the workshop, participants naturally shared a sense of togetherness as they spent the workshop time together. They also seemed to appreciate the story of the kaki tree parent and child more and take it to their hearts.
