Re: Dream of Love
OOOH, Dear artist of Wonder! Thank you so much! THANK YOU THANK YOU! Now I understand. Actually, it's better than that.
You see, I went off and read about MOAG - the book, and the movie. It took a while to find any mention of Koichi. As you say, he's a minor character in the movie. But so important, because he's Hatsumomo's lover and revealing this is how Satsu (who becomes Sayuri as a geisha) gets back at Hatsumomo for tricking her into defacing Mameha's robe, and all of Hatsumomo's other jealous and mean tricks.
So I figured out who these characters were. But more than that, now you are telling me how YOU see them, and WHY you decided to show the complex and fierce and difficult relationship of Koichi and Hatsumomo. OMG! This, *this* is so powerful, what you're telling me. Poor Hatsumomo! She *is* Snape, isn't she? Beautiful and skillful, but "hates what she does" as you say, and almost can't help being mean because of it. (Or, maybe just meaner. LOL)
And Koichi is so much like Harry. He just loves her with a simple, happy joy. But Hatsumomo is torn between her desire for that love, and her pride in her position. Which she loves - being "top geisha" - but also hates, because of all the reasons you mention. WOW WOW WOW This is perfect Snarry!!!!
Also, such beautiful, romantic, angsty art! This is like an *opera*!! I guess I've seen a lot of people call MoaG a "soap opera," but this is not as trivial as that implies. It's truly a situation in which Hatsumomo!Snape is torn by huge conflicts, both revered for her position and oppressed by it.
The powerful dusky reds in your art really convey this passion, its strength, how it pervades and rules her entire life, and the implacable bind it puts her in once she meets Koichi, with his simple, open love. Koichi!Harry's open, simple garment, with its clear, ordinary colors show what he offers Hatsumomo!Snape. She's torn - her kimono is open; she shows Koichi how much she wants this. The phoenix on her kimono, and the lush silk print of her obi, remind us how exotic and rare the geisha is, how rich the life that she risks by loving Koichi!
The color of their skin, bright and lively, proclaims their love. It's so clear that underneath the dress of manners and their social positions, they want to burst into joy together, with nothing hiding it. But Hatsumomo turns her face away, because she also doesn't want to give up the only prestige she's ever had, which she fights so hard to keep.
I love how her hair ornament cascades down across her face like red tears, the tears of passion and a tragic fate. Also, how your calligraphy of "Dream" hovers over her as a terrible reminder of what she cannot have.
OK, this is totally too long... I'm just so EXCITED by your comments! It means so much to hear the artist's thoughts - I can see so much more in the work, and appreciate all the thoughts behind your choices of what to show, and how. I'm going to go squee wildly in my IJ now... Thank you again, so much, for telling me this!