about the author: workshop task

I usually like to work figuratively with mostly tangible ideas but making the symbol to represent Murakami felt natural and interesting too. I'm not sure I could bring Murakami across in an entirely abstract format though, but it's worth a go.

I chose the motif of mysterious women for the set task. The characters in Murakami's novels are often driven by lust (even if they try to present it in a more intellectual way) so I painted the women in red and black with rough strokes (including with a stick) to try and present this harshness.

The second image was looser and in calmer tones. There is a certain sensitivity to all of Murakami's characters and scenes of vulnerability, particularly the women, and I think this is more what he wants to present.

After the workshop I made a few little sketches combining characters and the records that he so loves to write into his books. I'm not sure there's too much I can do with this though, particularly regarding the physicality of records (so flat!)