GO BANANAS
“Go Bananas” - 2020
Summer in Okinawa… Hot and humid. The heat makes you go bananas! But don’t you love it tho?
Banana plants are one of the thing that remind me of the summer. The big green leaves are iconic of tropical island. Here is some stories of banana in Okinawa island…
Beautiful big green leaves
The tropical weather grows very unique bananas. They are called ‘Shima banana’ (means Island banana) and they are slightly different than common bananas. They are smaller and have springy texture and rich, creamy sweetness with slightly sour taste.
Banana farm in Ogimi Village, Okinawa
In Okinawa, you also see lots of banana plant farms. Those are Japanese Banana and they are not the species that produce edible bananas. However they use this plant for Basho-fu (banana- fiber cloth). Basho-fu is traditional craft specific to Okinawa and this textile craft has continued to survive over generations.
“Banana Land” - 2019 Commission
The commission work in 2019. I was actually inspired by this piece and drew “Go Bananas” after this.
“Go Bananas” in Boxer Shorts
Collaboration with Mix58 by Turukame Oki - 2020
