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NIHONGA by Shibunkaku

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  • NIHONGA: Neo-Japonisme

     

    · · ·
     

    JOINT EXHIBITION

    AT

    OGATA PARIS

     

    October 16-20, 2024

    11am−8pm

    16, rue Debelleyme 75003 Paris

  • Nihonga, or traditional Japanese painting, is the embodiment of a unique philosophy shaped by Japan's long cultural history. At the...

    Nihonga, or traditional Japanese painting, is the embodiment of a unique philosophy shaped by Japan's long cultural history. At the core of this philosophy lies the concept of "Wa" (harmony), a state where conflicting elements exist simultaneously, each enhancing the other in a form of symbiosis, while acknowledging the space between opposites. It is a philosophy that transcends divisions, recognizing the existence of something beyond the self and others-an unspoken awareness that lies at the heart of all things.  

     

    This worldview is deeply connected to the indigenous beliefs in Japan that gods reside in all things, from the vast natural world of mountains, rivers, and forests to even the smallest roadside stones. Nihonga uses enduring mineral pigments made from pulverized natural ores and shells, applied to paper or silk. The brush and material reveal inner truths of a motif, from birds, flowers and seasons, to landscapes, light and the shadows. Life, death, and rebirth are seen as a continuous cycle moving in eternal rhythms. Living within the spaces of this ever-turning wheel of life is a central tenet of Japanese thought, and the very foundation of its culture and philosophy.  

     

    Integral to the soul of nihonga is the natural world: its constant state of flux and essential acceptance of life's absurdities. Through the artist's relentless study of nature, followed by countless sketches in the studio, a deeper connection is formed between the subject and the artist, distilling the essence of an ever-changing forest into a single leaf. For the Japanese, eight million Shinto gods dwell within the natural world and humans must accompany its changing seasons, blessings, and disasters without resistance. In this pivotal moment, we believe Nihonga has the power to offer new insights and perspectives to guide us forward. 

    • Shimomura Kanzan (1873–1930) , Rainbow
      Shimomura Kanzan (1873–1930) , Rainbow
    • Matsubayashi Keigetsu (1876–1963), Plum Blossoms
      Matsubayashi Keigetsu (1876–1963), Plum Blossoms
    • Maeda Seison (1885–1977) , Birds and Plum Blossoms
      Maeda Seison (1885–1977) , Birds and Plum Blossoms
    • Maeda Seison (1885–1977) , Red Plum Blossoms
      Maeda Seison (1885–1977) , Red Plum Blossoms
    • Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita (1886–1968) , Les repas des oiseaux, scène japonaise, c. 1919
      Léonard-Tsuguharu Foujita (1886–1968) , Les repas des oiseaux, scène japonaise, c. 1919
    • Ono Chikkyo (1889–1979), Morning Snow, c. 1945
      Ono Chikkyo (1889–1979), Morning Snow, c. 1945
    • Yoshida Yoshihiko (1912–2001), Still Life
      Yoshida Yoshihiko (1912–2001), Still Life
    • Nakamura Munehiro (b. 1950), Redding Sky
      Nakamura Munehiro (b. 1950), Redding Sky
    • Miyasako Masaaki (b. 1951), Aura, Sketch, c. 1989
      Miyasako Masaaki (b. 1951), Aura, Sketch, c. 1989
    • Sakakibara Shihō (1887- 1971), Magnolia and Birds
      Sakakibara Shihō (1887- 1971), Magnolia and Birds
    • Sakakibara Shihō (1887- 1971), New Willows and a Flock of Sparrows, c. 1924
      Sakakibara Shihō (1887- 1971), New Willows and a Flock of Sparrows, c. 1924
    • Sakakibara Shihō (1887- 1971), Sweet Corn
      Sakakibara Shihō (1887- 1971), Sweet Corn
    • Kataoka Tamako (1905–2008) , Flowers 
      Kataoka Tamako (1905–2008) , Flowers 
  • Nakamura Masayoshi (1924–1977)

    Nakamura Masayoshi underwent right thoracoplasty surgery in 1953, followed by left thoracoplasty in 1956, resulting in the loss of eight ribs. During these surgeries, Nakamura’s style also underwent a transformation, and the world he depicted changed dramatically. From the urban landscapes he had previously painted, he began creating Trees while riding the Iida Line through mountainous areas, and Hills along roads. Around 1969, winter tree scenes became more prevalent in his work. Woods is a piece depicting cherry blossoms beginning to bloom, covered in accumulated snow.

    • Nakamura Masayoshi, Hill, 1957
      Nakamura Masayoshi, Hill, 1957
    • Nakamura Masayoshi (1924−1977) , Trees, c. 1954
      Nakamura Masayoshi (1924−1977) , Trees, c. 1954
    • Nakamura Masayoshi (1924−1977) , Woods
      Nakamura Masayoshi (1924−1977) , Woods
  • Kayama Matazō (1927–2004)

    These are all original illustrations used by Japanese publishing company, Bungeishunjū.

    The four pieces Peony, Bird, Camellia, and Iris are part of the illustrations for Enchi Fumiko's novel, The Waiting Years, published in 1968 in Modern Japanese Literature Series 40: Enchi Fumiko and Koda Aya. These illustrations added further depth to Enchi's masterpiece, which is regarded as a pioneering work of post-war Japanese women's literature.

    Autumn Leaves was used in the table of contents of the monthly magazine published by Bungeishunjū. Grass on a Moonlit Night was likely used around the same time.

    • Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Autumn Leaves, c. 1968
      Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Autumn Leaves, c. 1968
    • Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Bird, c. 1968
      Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Bird, c. 1968
    • Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Peony, c. 1968
      Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Peony, c. 1968
    • Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Camellia, c. 1968
      Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Camellia, c. 1968
    • Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Grass on a Moonlit Night, c. 1968
      Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Grass on a Moonlit Night, c. 1968
    • Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Iris, c. 1968
      Kayama Matazō (1927–2004) , Iris, c. 1968
  • Kitagami Seigyu (1891−1970)

    Flowers and Grasses of the Four Seasons, made during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), follows paintings traditions of East Asia, depicting familiar motifs such as landscapes of the four seasons and bird and flower paintings. Seasonal paintings gained further popularity during the Edo period as a favored subject of the Rinpa school, one of the traditional schools of Japanese art. The folding screen featured here, which continues the tradition of incorporating seasonal elements into indoor spaces, depicts seasonal flowers on screen panels with a delicate and intimate sensibility, an embodiment of living in harmony with nature.  

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    Kitagami Seigyu (1891−1970)
    Flowers and Grasses of the Four Seasons
    Gold and color on gold-ground silk, pair of six-panel folding screens
    172 x 376 cm (image) each
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