Piece was painted
in 1996, completed in 1998
Acrylic
on canvas 52" x 83" (132 x 210 cm)
Collection
Mr. Nelson Fox, Miami Beach 1999
Those of you familiar with sushi culture
will recognize the bamboo pad (to roll the rice
and fish) and the prized engraved knife, which every
sushi chef carries with him to plow his trade. Incidentally,
in my view, the Delano Hotel became a sushi icon
just recently, thanks to phenomenal designer Philippe
Starck, pope of "Lobby Culture" (and a compatriot
-- I witnessed his first designs for the Cafe Coste,
Place des Halles, Paris in the '80s and at the times
it created quite a stir!)
It
was not so popular when I started the painting.
I initially was only interested in exploiting
the Art Deco features of this funny looking building
with fins, and it was serving my purpose well.
It
was suggested in 1996, by Mr. Arai, a newly arrived
sushi chef in Miami Beach, that I paint something
similar to Delectable Deco. This is the result,
on a rather tall canvas (more than 7 ft high). It
was generously facilitated by Mr. Arai who every
other evening diligently bicycled me plates of fresh
sushi of his invention.
Needless
to say, it took a long. . . and enjoyable time to
complete this piece.
