Drowned Sun (Soleil Noyé)

Maria Deguchi moved between cultures and their amalgamation is reflected in her artwork. Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, the daughter of a famous Vietnamese poet, Deguchi grew up with rich cultural environment filled with literature and music. She had a great passion for Japanese haiku poetry and Western classical music, but ultimately decided to study printmaking. She moved to Japan to study and there married a Japanese man. In the 1970s, she moved to Paris and worked at Friedlaender Atelier, the leading art print studio at the time. This print reflects the lyric nature shared by the literary traditions of both Vietnam and Japan. The radiant roundels seen here are often found in Deguchi’s work and create much vitality. The French title "Soleil Noyé" might come from Charles Baudelaire’s poem "Harmonie du soir (Evening Harmony)," appreciated by literary scholars for its strong musicality. - Chi-Lynn Lin, "Echoing Overseas" label text, Fall 2022