FOG Design+Art: Andrea Higgins

Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, Jan 17 - 20, 2019

Heavily layered and vibrant green yellow and purple oil paint on linen create two separate unique woven patterns inspired by the silk described in Japanese courtesan Lady Nijo’s autobiography Go-Fukakusa was the emperor the courtesan served The different green and yellow hues in the left piece create a criss crossing pattern as the multiple textured layers create the impression of a large embroidered spindling plant On the right different purple hues create a separate woven pattern with texture creating the impression of two embroidered flowers at the top right and bottom left corner

Detail of the left panel of GoFukakusa showing the built up layers of paint that make up the stems of the spindling plant

Detail of the embroidered bottom two flowers in the right panel in GoFukakusa

Andrea Higgins American, b. 1970

GoFukakusa, 2009

oil on linen

diptych, overall 43 x 40 inches/109.2 x 101.6 cm

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Further images

“GoFukakusa took special pains with his costume. He wore a yellow informal robe lined in green, with a design of burnet flowers worked into it, over a light violet gown bearing gentian- flower crests. His light violet trousers were lined in green, and everything was carefully scented.” Translated by Karen Brazell, The Confessions of Lady Nijō, (p. 56)