Showa-era Sushiya

Shōwa-era Sushiya is inspired by a small sushi restaurant Sylvester discovered by chance during his time living in Japan. The title references the Shōwa era (1926-1989), when local sushi restaurants like this were
common: tiny, often no larger than 10 to 15 square meters, run entirely by a single chef. These were humble, unpretentious, and sometimes cluttered spaces, but valued for their affordability and familiarity.

Today, many of these places are disappearing. The atmosphere, the sense of the chef dedicating his life to
his craft, and the history embedded in the space left a lasting impression on the artist. Through this piece,
he reflects on the beauty of accidental discovery and the lived-in character of places that may soon be gone.

The restaurant that inspired this work, established in 1973, has since been lost to a fire.