Mukyou Hirama "Modern Zen Calligraphy"
Caelum Gallery
This event has ended.
Although the title of the show, ‘Zen Calligraphy’, suggests a traditional oriental art form, it can also be seen as a show of contemporary sumi ink painting. Many photographers today persist in doing black and white work because of its sheer power, despite the existence of marvelous color technology. The same rational is at work in the sumi ink artist’s abnegation of color. Although limiting the pallet so severely is an austerity, the graphic qualities of sumi are brought to the forefront, and formidable drama on the one hand, and exquisite nuance on the other are made possible.
Hirama’s art, like all first-rate sumi, is a marriage of paper and ink. The artist’s brushwork corresponds exactly with the paper’s characteristics. Its rate of absorption, it’s ability to hold a line with a sharp edge, and the irregularities of the surface that affect stains are some of the points the artist considers when he plans out a work. “Plan” is perhaps not the appropriate word to use for work that looks as spontaneous as his does, but a great deal of experience is required to pull off what seems to be quickly executed works.
Speed and finality are thrilling components of the art. The visual record of the marks that the artist makes displays no hesitation at all, and the medium does not allow for any corrections of mistakes. Getting the pools of ink, or the crisp flow of lines, just right is like a soprano hitting a high note perfectly. The works are traditional and contemporary at the same time, and their quality is a reflection of the artist’s commitment to extending the potential of sumi ink painting.
Media
Schedule
from April 17, 2012 to April 21, 2012