Abstract

SUKIKARA, Fumiko. Ancient Maya on takuhon: An Artistic Interpretation of the Maya in Post-War Japan. Relac. Estud. hist. soc. [online]. 2020, vol.41, n.163, pp.119-137.  Epub June 18, 2021. ISSN 2448-7554.  https://doi.org/10.24901/rehs.v41i163.804.

This study explores the takuhon technique used by the Japanese artist Kojin Toneyama, through which he sought to approach and understand the Maya in his own particular way, and project an imaginary figure of their otherness. In a certain sense, his rubbed images and attached words to them contributed to the construction of a social imagination of Maya otherness in post-war Japan. Focusing on takuhon -a technique considered as “oriental tradition” but at the same time used in a modern way-, the article presents an approach to the artistic interpretation of the Maya that reflects the particular vision of post-war Japan.

Keywords : Maya; visualization; anthropology and art; post-war Japan; nostalgia.