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Tom Kristensen

Double Happy, 2006
copyright Tom Kristensen

Tom Kristensen, born 1962, is a young artist from Australia who works in the tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking. On this page, he writes about his latest print: "Double Happy".

Here is the original text written by Tom Kristensen. Text and images are copyright protected and may not be used or distributed for other than private use without the prior consignment of the author/artist.

Chinese Double Happy Character

The bold red Chinese character for double happiness is an auspicious emblem displayed at weddings, it is also the logo for a leading brand of Chinese cigarette. The traditional Chinese wedding has the bride wearing a red dress and veil, red symbolising good luck, prosperity, and of course, happiness.

Chairman Mao Zedong (1893 - 1976), a committed smoker and playboy, believed in eternal revolution. Since his death there have been 750 McDonalds outlets opened in China. Mao may not have approved this marriage of Chinese Communism with American Capitalism but he may well have enjoyed a burger. Current advertising in China has the Quarter Pounder beef burger as an aid for the overextended male libido.

Deng Xiaoping began reform of the Chinese economy in 1978 under the principle of "One Country Two systems". George Orwell categorised the ability to fervently believe in contradictory concepts as "double think". McDonalds has created brand awareness worldwide with the double arches and the Big Mac, the burger with double everything.

Tom Kristensen
October 2006

The artist was first discovered by Eric van den Ing, co-author of a classic ukiyo-e book "Beauty and Violence" and owner of Saru Gallery. After Eric van den Ing had placed Tom's woodblock prints on his online gallery, a few days later a collector had bought the whole set. Mr. van den Ing seems to have a "magic hand" for new artists. He was the first, and before artelino, to introduce Paul Binnie in 2000 to a larger online community of friends of Japanese prints.

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