Hosted by the Kimoto Gallery, Lori Motokado will have her first solo show of watercolours on paper. Created with muted colours and very fine brushwork, her works have an endearing quality. Photographs are copied with endless patience and loving care, each telling a story of longing for a time when the things we used were made to last. Motokado’s work harks back to the quality of mass-produced items of
the 1950s.
Artist Lori Motokado.| Photo by Claudia Bos.
Lori Motokado’s parents were of Japanese descent and suffered much loss and injustice in internment camps during the Second World War. However, Motokado was born into a new generation of Japanese Canadians well after and grew up in the B.C. interior. After her father passed away, the belongings he left behind inspired her to paint them and reflect on their value.
The Source: Why do you have this fascination with old things?
Lori Motokado: I have always been fascinated by history, and I have a degree in history from Simon Fraser University. I am an avid reader and the past is so full of stories.
T.S.: Does the title of your show, “Natural Obsolescence,” have something to do with being obsolete?
L.M.: Most certainly, the title refers to how the natural aging of everyday objects is a process that increases their value. For instance, shaving brushes become so meaningful in the way they wear down slowly from use. When they break beyond repair, they become obsolete by “natural obsolescence.” But what happens nowadays is that objects are produced with the intention of becoming obsolete in a short time. I recently could not repair my fridge because a small spare part was not available anymore. I had to purchase a whole new fridge; think of the waste of resources!
T.S.: How did this theme come about?
L.M.: When my father passed away about 10 years ago, I went to Kamloops to empty his apartment. It was only a small one bedroom apartment, but I had to ship everything I was keeping, and the cost of shipment goes by weight. It made me think twice about what I really valued the most in his possessions.
T.S.: What is your background in art?
L.M.: My mother put me in oil paint classes at age nine, but later on my health was affected by the chemicals in the oil paints, so I switched over to watercolours. I am self-taught in that technique.
T.S.: Do you always paint your own subjects?
5 o’clock Shadow by Lori Motokado.| Photo by Claudia Bos.
L.M.: In the beginning, yes, but as this theme evolved, I started skimming garage sales and thrift stores for items that have stories attached to them. Each piece takes about 40–80 hours to paint, so I spend quite a bit of time pondering with them. To me, it is a form of meditation.
T.S.: It is your intention to sell your art works. How do you feel about that?
L.M.: One time, at a group show, I had a painting up titled My Father’s Night Stand. I noticed that a visitor stood still at that painting and stayed there for a while. Then she burst into tears, grabbed my business card and ran off. Later she called me and apologized. The painting had struck a chord with her because that night stand was exactly like her father’s, with the coins and pocket knife on it. She bought it. I do hope some people will find a similar connection to the new work.
From June 25–July 18, the Kimoto Gallery will show new works by Lori Motokado. For more information: www.kimotogallery.com
