Kuchisake Onna and Hito Dama by Tom Bagshaw

2010-07-20

Tom Bagshaw has two beautiful new prints available a Fine Grime. Kuchisake Onna and Hito Dama are both available for £120.00 a piece. Each is a giclee print, is 410 x 560 mm, and is an edition of 50.

Hito Dama by Tom Bagshaw
Limited Edition Print
Medium: Giclee
Paper: 310gm2
Size: 410 x 560 mm
Edition size: 50
Signed / Numbered / Titled by Artist

Hito-dama or ‘human soul’ is the spirit of the newly dead and said to take the shape of glowing balls of fire- much like the european ‘willo-the-wisp’, sometimes with a long smoke like tail. A Hito-dama is often seen before a sick person dies, leaving the weakened body and heading off to the next stage of existence. They are said to fade away or fall to earth after they are seen, leaving a foamy or slimy residue on whatever they have touched.
Price: £120.00 at Fine Grime

Kuchisake Onna by Tom Bagshaw
Limited Edition Print
Medium: Giclee
Paper: 310gm2
Size: 410 x 560 mm
Edition size: 50
Signed / Numbered / Titled by Artist

Kuchisake-onna translates as ‘slit mouthed woman’ and this Yōkai is based on a legend about a young woman, either the wife or concubine of a samurai. She was supposed to have been very beautiful but vain and possibly cheating on her husband. The jealous samurai attacked her, slitting her mouth from ear to ear screaming, “Who will find you beautiful now?”

The story is then taken up in various urban myths, usually involving a woman or girl wearing a surgical mask (often used by those with a cold in Japan) who upon meeting someone – usually children or college students – will ask whether she is beautiful. If they answer yes the mask comes off revealing the slit mouth and sharp teeth and the question is repeated. If the victim answers no she will slit their mouth too. If they say yes she will follow them home and slay them on their doorstep.
Price: £120.00 at Fine Grime

Tags: Art Prints, Fine Grime, Hito Dama, Kuchisake Onna, Tom Bagshaw

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