Ryokan Ara and Hideki Togi “Prayer For Love And Hope”
The Nippon Gallery
This event has ended.
Mr. Ara entered the Buddhist priesthood at age 10 and became Hoshi (successor of principle) at the Sengakuin in Sendai. Having held prominent posts at temples such as Shojokouin (Sendai) and Daifukuji (Fukushima) to name a few, he currently resides in Hawaii as the representative of the Tendai Mission Of Hawaii, propagating Buddhism in Hawaii and the continental US. Besides, he established The Art Institute Of Hawaii and the Japanese Language Institute Of Hawaii to introduce and familiarize people to the Japanese culture. He also introduces Buddhism art with his unique way of Buddhist painting; his achievements culminated in the 2011 annual Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Award.
On the other hand, Mr. Togi was born into a family of musicians that has handed down “gagaku,” the Japanese imperial court music, for 1,400 years. He has performed not only in the ceremonies of the Imperial Household Agency and gagaku concerts at the Imperial Palace but also in many concerts overseas. While he has played a part in introducing Japanese traditional culture as well as in promoting international goodwill exchange, he has created his own musical world with a touch of gagaku music and performed widely in various media and overseas. Mr. Togi is also known for his multifaceted talent such as with the picture book Hikari Furu Oto that he illustrated; in 2011, he organized a personal exhibition with Mr. Ara as a charity event in relief of the Great East Japan Earthquake disasters.
This exhibition, themed on “Prayer For Love And Hope,” features watercolor and design sketches by Mr. Togi, with gagaku instruments that go 1,400 years back in history, and the hiten that is frequently depicted in Buddhist art, as motifs. Also featured is Mr. Ara’s suiboku-ga (ink paintings) and Buddhist paintings depicting the Buddha’s mercy and sorrow, whose unique technique have captured many hearts in New York, and Rakan Seppozu, a painting that features Mr. Ara’s short lay sermon in the form of poetry.
Media
Schedule
from March 27, 2012 to April 02, 2012