Fluitspelende sirene 1937 - 1969

Curator: This is "Fluitspelende sirene," or "Flute-Playing Siren," by Yo Sugano, created sometime between 1937 and 1969. It's an engraving, offering a glimpse into Sugano’s exploration of mythology through figuration. Editor: Wow, she’s…intense. Not exactly the Disney version of a siren. More like a creature plucked from a nightmare. The shading gives it such an eerie, dreamlike quality, doesn’t it? Like a half-formed memory. Curator: It's a stark contrast to the often romanticized depictions we see of sirens. Here, we have this hybrid being—part woman, part bird, evoking older, darker interpretations of the mythological siren as a bringer of death, reflecting the dangers and allure of female power, perhaps. Editor: Precisely! She’s playing that flute, but you know the melody isn't sweet. It's a call to something wild, maybe destructive within ourselves. And those heavy strokes giving definition to the wings and tail feathers, creating the contrast, give the whole piece an unresolved emotional charge. Curator: The very roughness of the engraving, its pen-ink sketch-like quality, adds to the feeling of unease. It disrupts any sense of conventional beauty, questioning traditional notions of female representation. Sugano seemingly uses the mythological siren as a vehicle to explore broader themes of identity, and perhaps anxieties linked to gender and power in pre- and post-war Japan. Editor: And she feels trapped, almost… caged within the confines of that rectangle, as though Sugano wasn’t just depicting her, but also hinting at the societal limitations imposed on women—or any ‘other’ who defies simple categorization. I also can’t help but think about music—what is she actually playing for and for whom? The secrets lie behind the composition, which opens all sorts of creative and imaginative doors. Curator: Exactly. It's about challenging established norms and questioning dominant narratives. The enduring resonance of Sugano’s print lies in its ability to confront us with uncomfortable truths. Editor: Right. I leave feeling like I saw the face of a deity who will not smile for anyone. Powerful work, regardless of where it began!