by Nakamichi Yuhto
In the past, I blogged about Nihonga, (http://redroom.com/member/keiko-amano/blog/uemura-shoen-1875-1949) but I didn't think viewers understood how good they were because we could not see the fine detail of good Nihonga works unless we see them by our naked eyes. But or because of it, I need to bring this up. I am dedicating this blog to my son because of his birthday this week. He loves Katsushika Hokusai's (not Hiroshige as I typed before) "The Great wave," and I have tried to explain to him in the past, but most of Japanese culture and arts are difficult to explain in words. Anyway, I want to let him and all of you know this different genre of art that is similar to western paintings. I just don't want you to miss the greatness of it. It is the reason Nihonga will not go away as long as Japan exists.
"A Phantom Summer" by Sawano Sinpei
When I entered into a room of oil paintings, the smell made me a bit dizzy. I don't know if any of you have felt that before. Maybe some of us are sensitive. I love oil paintings, too, but I don't like the smell. One good thing about Nihonga is probably no smell.
I'm unsure how to read the name of this artist, but my guess is Kyokusi Akira. I could be wrong. The title is "Afterglow."
It could be coincident, but several people near me who were buying postcards and photos picked the same one as I did. I think we did because of our fond memory of the lights in Japan growing up.
I have to write about Japanese experience in lights along with texture and other details someday. There is a lot of study done in some of those details to my surprise, and I've learned that Japanese are using the result in business like textile industry and so on. It's very interesting area of study.
"For Tomorrow" by Niikawa Miko
I stood in front of this nihonga for a long time and admired it. I stared at the dovetails of the desks and chairs. And the grain of the wood and softness of the light coming in. I was in my classroom, too.
