The Wellspring of My Art
The wellspring of my art can be traced back to the years I spent in Europe, where I had moved for my husband’s work. I visited countless museums—the National Gallery and the British Museum in London; the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. As I immersed myself in the masterworks of the Western canon, a conviction began to form within me: “These great paintings are profoundly rooted in the landscapes and histories of Europe. Ought I not, as a Japanese artist, seek an expression rooted in the landscapes and history of my own homeland?” It was this deep-seated yearning that led me to the world of Japanese ink painting.
To me, 'Sumiiro' does not simply mean a richness of color. It is the moment when the spirit I pour into my brush travels directly into the heart of the viewer. This resonance between our spirits is what I call 'iro.'
What I strive to paint is the delicate breath of Japan's nature—a world where the scent of flowers drifts from the canvas, where one can hear the murmur of a stream or the sound of the wind. At the core of this expression is a foundation of points and lines, with no outlines. I take what I have understood and internalized, sublimate it into my own unique expression, and release it all at once onto the pure white paper.
To capture the essence of a subject in a single, unwavering brushstroke, I believe it is essential to enter a state of mind free from all extraneous thought. The slightest hesitation of the heart reveals itself in the line. I etch the image deep into my mind until spirit and body are one. At that moment, hand and mind connect, and the brush begins to move on its own, beyond the reach of consciousness.
It is through this discipline, I believe, that I will one day reach the state of being I aspire to.
