STAMPED BAG
Shoosty’s “Stamped Bag” (2025), a 36” x 36” vector graphic on 18mm silk twill, graces the Shoosty Bugs exhibition at Daytona’s Museum of Arts and Sciences with a narrative steeped in history. Inspired by the burgeoning commerce between East and West, the piece reflects the cultural exchange that began in earnest during the 16th century, as trade routes like the Silk Road and later maritime paths opened up. These exchanges brought not just goods but ideas, with Western traders encountering East - ern art on commerce bags—images of every - day life that contrasted sharply with the West’s rigid focus on monarchy, church, and elite pa - tronage. The East, particularly through Japan’s fluid ukiyo-e prints, depicted ordinary scenes with a grace that captivated Western artists, sparking movements like Japonisme in the 19th century. This cross-pollination allowed artists to personally explore distant shores, blending styles and themes, as seen in “Stamped Bag’s” delicate wasps and flowing, Eastern-inspired borders against a Western geometric frame.
A comparable work is Vincent van Gogh’s “The Courtesan” (1887), which embodies Ja - ponisme’s influence with its bold outlines and vibrant colors drawn from Japanese wood - block prints, yet re-imagined through a West - ern lens. Shoosty’s piece shares this fusion, using silk—a material tied to Eastern trade—to bridge cultures. Van Gogh once wrote, “I envy the Japanese for the enormous clarity that all their works have,” a sentiment that resonates with Shoosty’s own journey of discovery, mov - ing from a Western misconception to a deeper appreciation of mutual influence.
back
Stamped Bag 36” x 36” 18 mm silk twill Front Shoosty 2023
144
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker