Island painting encounters
Isson Tanaka is a much-loved painter here in the Amami islands and his work was my very first not only arts but also island encounter. Upon my arrival, my colleague took me straight from the airport to the exhibition of his work at Amami Park. It proved to be a very influential encounter as his work provided me with the lenses through which I came to see these islands. Subsequently, everywhere I went I saw Isson's landscapes: his ability to capture the natural beauty of the i
