Kumonryu 九紋龍

Artist:	horitomo
Exhibition:	GANSO! A MONMON CATS EXHIBITION
Art Width:	14.0" (35.56 cm)
Art Height:	10.5" (26.67 cm)
Frame Width:	17.75" (45.09 cm)
Frame Height:	21.25" (53.98 cm)
Medium:	Ink & pigments on washi paper
Features:	Framed Signed
Year:	2023

Artwork

KUMON-RYU (九紋龍)

"Tattoo of nine dragons is a novel written in China about 500 years ago about a man that excelled in martial arts who had nine dragons tattooed on his body. This character is a very popular subject amongst traditional Japanese tattoos. There are also well known woodblock prints from the Edo period depicting him. I painted this monmon cat as an homage to this character. On his kimono I illustrated a carp pattern. According to Chinese legend, it is said that if a carp can climb the rapids of the Yellow River it can transform into a dragon. This symbolizes success in life. Cats like to eat carp so I chose to represent the energy of the eaten carp with a dragon tattoo."

-Horitomo