| Last updated at 12:34 AM on 25/08/09 |
Awed by the land of Anne 
Artist Yoko Kawaguchi is thrilled with her chance to showcase her work in the P.E.I.-inspired Fantasy Art exhibit
BY SALLY COLE
The Guardian
As a child in Japan, Yoko Kawaguchi loved to read about the adventures of a fictional red-haired girl and the magical place she lived — Prince Edward Island.
“Through the experience, I developed an imagination like Anne of Green Gables. She inspired me to become an artist,” says the Hyogo resident who went on to study fine arts at Takarazuka University after completing high school.
Now 10 years after being immersed in the discipline and holding exhibitions at the Ono and Syuyu Galleries in Japan, Kawaguchi wanted to reconnect with her childhood heroine.
So two months ago she flew to P.E.I. for the first time to see first-hand the colourful landscape described in the Anne of Green Gables by famous author L.M. Montgomery in her book and to paint it.
“I believed by coming here I could paint beautiful pictures of Anne and her beautiful Island. Now that I see it it’s even more beautiful than I imagined,” says Kawaguchi, who will have an exhibition of P.E.I.-inspired Fantasy Art exhibit at Ampersand in Charlottetown, from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4.
Shortly after arriving, a friend started taking her for drives throughout the Island countryside where she combined her imagination with the pastoral landscape.
The results are impressive.
In Windmills at North Cape, Kawaguchi has softened the towering, spinning industrial structures by painting them under a night sky filled with shooting stars and rotating planets.
In West Point Lighthouse — acrylic on wine bottle, she has painted the iconic structure adding whimsical elements like the moon and a falling star.
“It usually takes me two to three weeks to finish a painting. But when I get inspired, it opens my imagination and things get finished quicker. This one only took a week,” says Kawaguchi, pointing to Magical Biking Trail — a cyclist pedaling down a red clay path while green fields, blue sky and white clouds seem to dissolve around him.
She has even painted Islanders into her artwork.
“I met someone who was kind and friendly so I painted her with a pair of wings and she became a fairy,” says Kawaguchi, with a laugh.
Since arriving, her openness and friendliness quickly won her over with city residents. One of the first people that Kawaguchi met was the relative of someone who is a regular at Ampersand.
“She dropped in one day and was showing and telling us about her art work. She was so nice we set her up with a spot upstairs at the gallery,” says manager Drew Haggie.
Two months later, Kawaguchi can't believe that her dream is about to be realized.
“I am proud to host my first exhibition in Canada on Prince Edward Island,” she says.
Early on she realized that if she were to reach her goal of becoming an international artist she would have to learn English. So in 2004 she went New Zealand to study the language. Kawaguchi enjoyed it there, landing several exhibitions.
But she wanted more.
“I decided to explore another country and culture. P.E.I. was my first choice because of fond memories of Anne of Green Gables.
“Being here has given me new inspiration for my paintings and allowed me improve my artwork,” she says.
Fast facts
Anne’s roots in Japan
In the beginning:?In 1939, when New Brunswick missionary, Miss Shaw, left Japan, she gave to her friend Hanako Muraoka her prized copy of Anne of Green Gables. Secretly, the respected Japanese translator rendered Montgomery's text into Japanese, Akage No Anne (Anne of the Red Hair).
Finding an audience: When the Second World War ended and officials were looking for uplifting Western literature for the schools, Muraoka brought out her translation of Anne. Ever since, Anne has been a part of Japanese culture, with her exotic red hair and comic outspokenness.
In the schools: Anne of Green Gables became part of the school curriculum in 1952.
Source: http://lmm.confederationcentre.com/
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