Kitsune-Ken by Daria Aksenova

Title:	Kitsune-Ken
Date Created:	2017
Copyright:	© Daria Aksenova
Genre:	Fantasy
Mediums:	Pen, Ink
Views:	817
Posted:	12/8/2017

Projects: I am a self-taught illustrator & paper sculptor currently based in Houston, TX. I strive to continuously further my education. I am a current member of The International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA) and Paper Artist Collective (PAC). I have kept up a daily studio practice since 2016 and worked on a variety of projects aside from running my own business, including public large-scale artwork installation, solo exhibitions, merchandise development, production, tradeshow exhibitions, and textile design. I currently show at galleries across the United States, including Haven Gallery (NY), Modern Eden (CA). I have presented my work in multiple international publications, magazines (ImagineFX, Beautiful Bizarre, Create!, & Pikchur), and art books (Infected by Art Volume 6, 7, 8 & 9). My work has been nominated for the 2019, 2020 & 2021 Chesley Awards in the "Best Three-Dimensional Art" and "Best Monochrome: Unpublished" category by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA). IX has been a staple event in my schedule for the last three years, and I would relish the opportunity to return and present a new body of work in 2022.

Location: Houston, TX

Pen and Ink on hand-cut, layered, suspended paper. 9" x 9" (Framed to 10" x 10") Kitsune, the Japanese fox, are often seen as an omen and act as messengers of the spirit Inari. They are tricksters and shapeshifters. They progressively earn up to nine tails through their wisdom and longevity. They gain first the ability to turn into a human and later the form of a beautiful woman - at which time they earn the first of their tails. This work depicts her first appearance in an ongoing series about Therianthropy and shapeshifting. The name is derived from an old Japanese rock-paper-scissors-like game, and translates as “Fox Fist”. Players simultaneously choose between a supernatural fox (狐, kitsune) which defeats the village head (庄屋, shouya) that defeats the hunter (猟師, ryoushi) ; the hunter defeats the fox.