Year: 2016-2020
Medium: acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 150 x 100 cm (59 x 39 3/8 in.)
Acquired from MAHO KUBOTA GALLERY, 2023
The rabbit Usacchi (うさっち) is a motif synonymous with Kaga. He is cute, but always has a somewhat shadowed expression. He keeps talking to himself in the mirror and always spends time listlessly with an injured bear who seems to be his partner. In this work, Ussachi is standing in a deep blue background reminiscent of a night illuminated by sparkling rainbow decorations, holding a colorful spherical object close to his chest. The drawing is painted with glitter which repeatedly reflects small flashes of light. Upon closer inspection, one can see the vigorous brushstrokes swirling around painted sketches, disrupting the tranquility of the canvas. The title “Past is always bright” sounds like a proverb, but whether it signifies regret for the past, pessimism for the present, or resignation for the future, its true meaning is not revealed from the rabbit’s face which appears to be rigid in a faint smile. In the center of the spherical object held by the rabbit, there appears to be a symbol of a looped ribbon. The rabbit remains stiff and tense, as if saying to leave him alone.
