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Title

Kyōgen mask of a kappa

2019

Artist

Kitazawa Hideta

Japan

1968 –

Alternate image of Kyōgen mask of a kappa by Kitazawa Hideta

  • Details

    Date
    2019
    Media category
    Sculpture
    Materials used
    cypress (hinoki), paint; carving
    Dimensions
    19.8 x 17.5 x 11.0 cm
    Credit
    Roger Pietri Fund 2019
    Location
    Naala Nura, lower level 1, Asian Lantern galleries
    Accession number
    158.2019
    Copyright
    © Kitazawa Hideta

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    Artist information
    Kitazawa Hideta

    Works in the collection

    5

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  • About

    Kappa are water-dwelling yōkai that combine elements of frogs, turtles and monkeys. With regional variations across Japan, they usually have wild hair surrounding pools of water on their heads. Kappa love sumo wrestling and cucumbers; kappa-maki (cucumber sushi rolls) are named after them. This contemporary mask comes from artist Hideta Kitazawa’s imagination rather than tradition.

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 2 exhibitions

    • Japan Supernatural, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 02 Nov 2019–08 Mar 2020

    • Elemental, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 Jul 2022–2024

  • Provenance

    Kitazawa Hideta, Oct 2019, Japan, purchased by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Aug 2012.

Other works by Kitazawa Hideta

See all 5 works