Nanami Cowdroy’s, unique style of art has its roots in her multicultural background.
Born to a Japanese mother and an Australian father with a Scottish and French descent, Nanami has experienced many identity crashes throughout her childhood.
Highlight
- Nanami's artworks often reflect the cultural and identity battles she experienced as a child
- She finds joy in drawing fragile objects with thick brush strokes
- Nanami's one of the feature artists in the exhibition Here I Am: Art By Great Women
Her mother was a qualified ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) teacher, who was very “old fashioned and traditional” in Nanami’s upbringing.
“Okasan(mother) would often tell me, Nanami, don’t be urusai (noisy), be reserved, be sweeter…she had a traditional idea of how a girl should be” Nanami recalls.
Putting aside the occasional tension with her Okasan, Nanami now looks back and appreciates her mother's efforts to keep her connected to her Japanese roots. “ I also feel lucky to be born and raised in a free country like Australia – where the concept of female empowerment is the cultural norm’
Nanami’s constant inner battles can be seen through her artwork Onna Bugeisha (translated female warrior or female samurai) featured in the outdoor exhibition Here I Am: Art By Great Women currently held at Kambri in Australian National University.
“I wanted to play with the idea of traditional Ukiyo-E imagery mixed with contemporary elements, styles and objects. A playful interpretation of what its like to be a female, like the old ways vs female empowerment”
”Onna Bugeisha”, currently featured in the exhibition, "Here I Am: Art By Great Women" at the Australian National University Source: Here I Am: Art By Great Women
Nanami says, she is always proud to be part of an exhibition that promote female artists.
“I have worked with Ambush Gallery for many projects, and they really give a public platform to creative women. This exhibition also showcases indigenous artworks and so has a beautiful cross-cultural feel - a feeling of Australia”
Nanami comes from a very creative family. As already mentioned, her mother was an ikebana artist, while her late father was a milliner. If you look on to her relatives, there are political cartoonist, photographer, journalist, writer, documentary film makers, kimono dresser, and the list goes on.
Nanami clearly remembers the moment when her father said “Nanami, you have caught the cowdroy bug!” while delightfully watching and admiring Nanami’s drawing during her childhood.
However, surrounded by array of artists, Nanami also saw it firsthand, how difficult it can be to make a living as an artist. So, to secure a job while still been connected to her creative side, Nanami studied industrial design and visual communication, working at an advertising company for over 9 years.
Nanami's mother was a ikebana artist, while her late father was a milliner. Source: Nanami Cowdroy
This all changed when her father who Nanami was very close with became very ill.
“One of his last words were, ‘Nanami, follow your passion, follow your art’, and this stayed with me for a long time”
Without thinking or deliberately trying, Nanami began drawing.
“It was ｍy way of coping with the loss”
From there on, began Nanami’s journey.
Once you see Nanami’s work, one will quickly recognize a constant theme throughout. Her signature detailed style reflects a refined monochrome palette. Fluid line-work and watery creatures are some of her favourite subjects and distinctive forms which feature in her artworks.
“I love to draw fragile objects with thick black brush strokes. It almost feels like I can give them strength”
Nanami loves the rawness of black and white, "it's a honest representation of things".
"Colour can be symbolic, like warmth and happiness for yellow, red for anger...but it will be a challenge to covey a feeling through monochrome imagery"
"Blow Fish" by Nanami Source: Nanami Cowdroy
"My obaachan(grandmother) taught me how to fold the paper cranes. When my father passed, we all folded a crane and placed them in my father's coffin"
"When I draw cranes, I feel like my father is close by"
"Cable Cranes" by Nanami Cowdroy Source: Nanami Cowdroy
And as a SBS exclusive, we can reveal that Nanami has been working with the United Nations ODC Campaign (Office on Drugs and Crime) as one of the feature artists. Her work will be animated for the first time and should be launched by end of the week!
