Artist Ema Kubo on Blending Two Distinct Cultural Traditions on Paper
*All photos by Ema Kubo
I’m so excited to have artist Ema Kubo to kick off the first Culture Luminaries series for Nourish Co!
This series is a way for me to share with you the some of amazing women I’m following, who are cultural leaders in very diverse fields. Following along with their work has expanded my own perspective of what cultural traditions and heirlooms can be in a modern world, and I know they will inspire you as much as they’ve inspire me.
Ema is a Japanese American artist, art historian, art history teacher, and mother. I think I first found her on Instagram. What I love so much about Ema is how she shows us the realness of being an artist mama (like when she posts about painting between her daughter’s naps!) and of course her beautiful ink and watercolor work.
I purchased one of her hiragana prints for my future child a while back. While it felt silly at the time, I’m so glad I did. I’m a former interior designer, so when I get that feeling of “I will never find anything else like this”, I go for it if I can!
During our Instagram Live, Ema shared a little bit about:
Her work: Her love of art from a young age and spending summers in Japan growing up informed her decision to become an artist. We also discussed how her relationship with art history has changed as she learned more about Japanese art history and the rich traditions that inform her current work.
Language and cultural traditions: Her father didn’t speak Japanese, but sacrificed his ability to understand so his children would have the gift of knowing both languages. Ema hopes to work with her husband today to give a similar gift to her own children, though it may look different than it did for her, and that’s okay!
Ritual objects: Ema shared with us her lacquer calligraphy box from her grandmother that she uses almost every day and her ‘Last Supper’ painting in her dining room by a Japanese folk painter who combines his Japanese heritage and Christian identities.
You can watch the full interview below!
Thank you so much Ema for being a part of this series and sharing your cultural traditions and heirlooms with us! You can learn more about Ema here.
As I discussed ritual objects with Ema, I am reminded that there are so many ways to celebrate, honor, and even reclaim, our time-honored traditions. I believe ritual objects really help anchor us in these moments— especially during this time.
Head here to visit our Modern Heirlooms web shop, where I've thoughtfully co-created ritual objects with my favorite artisans (in limited runs) to help you elevate your sacred rituals.