10. State of art class

In this week, I introduce art class of my university. There are a lot of universities that we can study Japanese painting at present. So I want you to know how Japanese painting is studied in the university.

School of art (University of Tsukuba)
 First, I introduce educational aim. We study technologies, materials and fundamental knowledge to be an expert. And we also deepen one’s knowledge and develop expressive sensitivity and power of expression based on high originality. Experts who can contribute in the future are brought up in this class. These are educational aim of this art class.
 Next, I introduce curriculums　of school.

School curriculum
●Freshman

They study a point of view based on Japanese painting. And they study fundamental knowledge and handling of Japanese painting trough practices and lectures.

●Sophomore

They pursue a point of view through sketching. And they study fundamental technologies. They also bring up power of expression.

●Junior

　They study power of description on Japanese painting and technical skill relative to one’s intention of expression. And they bring up power of formation of screen. And they also do classical reproduction and work based on sketch of person.

●Senior

　  They attempt high grade of special technology through practices and study landscapes, portraits and painting of flower and birds. And they try masterpiece on work for graduation.

　Those are gentle curriculums of school. It takes long times to acquire Japanese painting.
And most people go on to master’s school and doctor’s school. I introduce the curriculums, too.

Master’s program
●first year of master’s program,
 They set to work to paint a kind of motifs and portraits based on technical skill. They pursue potential of new expression. And they also do classical reproduction based on silk of picture.
●second year of master’s program
 They establish one’s theme and attempt mastering of one’s expression. And they set to work to masterpiece on work of completion. 

Doctor’s program
●first, second, third years of doctor’s program
They think necessity of technic and materials and deepen a theme that they have established. And they also try to develop theoretical.
Curriculums of university of tsukuba are formed as study Japanese painting long time.

State of art class

 I am freshman. So I introduce state of freshman of art class.
We started by sketch a lily at the first. It is important to observe carefully and catch characteristic of a lily. And to get used to using materials of Japanese painting is more important than anything else.
 In the second term, we painted free work for school festival. Each student try to establish one’s theme and use materials of Japanese painting.
And in the third term, we paint landscape of a tree. It is painting now.

We experience materials of Japanese painting everyday.


That is all about state of my art class.
This blog is final on this week. Do you take an interest in Japanese painting? I’m glad you have interest in it. If you have some questions about Japanese painting, please ask me.
See you again!


Source: http://www.geijutsu.tsukuba.ac.jp/school/

9. Museums

In this week, I introduce museums of Japanese painting on Tokyo. I have been museum that I’m going to introduce. There are fascinations each museum.

Yamatane Museum 

Yamatane museum of art is located in Hiro, Tokyo. It is the museum that specializes in Japanese painting.

 Yamatane museum was founded on 1966 by Taneji Yamazaki who is progenitor of Yamatane security. It opened in Nihonbashikabutotyo, Tokyo at first.
 Taneji supported a lot of Japanese painters who became famous in later, for example Taikan Yokoyama who is virtuoso of modern Japanese painting. Taikan said Taneji that he should do something to contribute world. Taneji decided to found museum by this Taikan’s word.

 Yamatane museum have many Japanese painting. It has important cultural property too. For example, “hanbyo”(『斑猫』), “enbu”(『炎舞』) and “meijutiritsubaki”(『名樹散椿』).

hanbyo / Seiho Takeuchi

enbu / Gyoshu Hayami

meijutiritsubaki / Gyoshu Hayami

Exhibition

 Now, Yamatane museum is hold special exhibition from February 9 to March 31(the first term: 2/9～3/3 ,the second half: 3/5～3/31). It is the exhibition about Rimpa school (If you don’t know Rimpa, please read my blog on week 6!) and modern Japanese painting. There are works that is seen only the first term or the second half. So if you go to this exhibition, I recommend you to check works that you want to see.

Sato Sakura museum

 

Sato Sakura museum opened in Hukushima Prefecture on 2006. And it opened in Tokyo too on 2012. So Sato Sakura museum of Tokyo is new comparatively and unfamiliar. This museum specialize modern Japanese painting. It releases having works in form that is set theme every exhibition. And this museum has the concept that is “to please people by full cherry tree on Japanese paintings”. So there are a lot of paintings of cherry tree in this museum.
 The museum on Tokyo is located in Nakameguro. And it hold exhibitions four or five times a year.

Exhibition
Now, Sato Sakura museum hold the exhibition about animal. It is held to February 17. Next exhibition will be held from March 6 to June 9. And it is the exhibition about cherry blossom.

Nezu Museum

 

 Nezu museum is located in near Omotesandou Station.
 Nezu museum has whole works of Japanese art. It has not only paintings but also crafts, carvings, dyeing and old books. And it has many national treasure and important cultural property. For example, “Kakitsubata-zu byobu”that is painted by Korin Ogata. And “Nachinotaki-zu”that is national treasure was exhibited recently.


Kakitsubata-zu byobu / Korin Ogata

 

Nachinotaki-zu

Exhibition
 Next exhibition is about tools of tea that was used in Japan old.


If you had interest Japanese painting, I recommend you to go some museums!
I introduced three museums. But there are more museums of Japanese painting in whole Japan. My introduction is only part of it.
Next week is the last blog. I’m going to introduce state of Japanese painting class of my university. See you!



8. Modern artists

 In this week, I introduce modern artist. Modern Japanese painting is developping and expanding now. And modern artists also adopt traditional technology.
 Now, there are a lot of artist of Japanese painting. I introduce  saveral artists of them.(They are my favorite artists!)



Modern artist

Ikuo Hirayama (1930-2009)

 Ikuo Hirayama was born Hiroshima Prefecture. He ranks the greatest artist of Japanese painting. And his work is the highest by far in Japan.
 When he was junior high school student, he suffered by atom bomb. This experience became the origin of his active, for example conservation of cultural assets, and linked his works.
 He entered Tokyo School of Fine Arts (present Tokyo University of the Arts) on 1947. After graduated, he drive for Japanese painting artist in earnest. And he became a member of Nihonbijutuin on 1959.
 Since he painted work on the theme of Buddhism, a number of works on the theme of it were painted by him. And it linked the Silk Road that is the road of eastward advance of Buddhism and connected east and west. He visited remain of the Silk Road and China in the latter half of 1960s. Afterward it, he traveled Europe countries too.
 On 1994, he became the chief director of group of conservation of cultural assets. He had a tremendous impact in the modern world.

 His works are clear color, and are painted thick.

Ikuo Hirayama (平山郁夫) / Tsukiakari no sabaku (月明の砂漠)
 

This picture is scenery of the Silk Road. Blue is beautiful. Though blue has a image that it is cold, this picture is not that. Moonlight is warm, and air is clean.



 Toshio Tabuchi (1941-)

  Toshio was born Tokyo on 1941. He entered Tokyo University of the Arts on 1941, and entered graduate school.
  After graduated, he stayed Nigeria. He was touched by fierce air of life there. He discovered sturdy vital energies in weed and it became the theme of his works.
 On 1970, he became a member of Nihonbijutuin. He is active in modern Japanese art world.
 It is found that the gap between color and line and painting over outline as his work’s characteristics. And color is few. Simple color, for example green, blue and red, are used on his works.
 Now, he undertakes ink painting. He is making progress as artist.

Toshio Tabuchi(田渕俊夫) / (叢叢讃歌)

This picture is few colors. But there is the depth of a color in this work. As stated above, Toshio use few color. It links charms of his work. I think so.



And followings are  introductuon other modern artist. They are active artists. I introduce their works. If there are works that you like, I reccomend you see other works of artist you like.

Chiori Miyakita
She is an artist on nihonbijutuin. There are a lot of portraits on her works. She has a sense of peculiar to woman. For example, cold colors matchs warm colors on this picture. She uses colors well.

negai (a wish)
(願い)

Huyuko Matsui
 She doesn't belong to painting circles that I introduced on last week.
Theme of her works are woman, in other words, female. And she paints ghost painting, internal organ, brain, and animals too.
 I think her works a little grim. But they are not only grim but also beautiful.



Becominng Friends with All the Children in the World
(世界中の子と友達になれる)

Aguri　Uchida
She belongs to SOGA-kai. Her works are abstraction.  And Her works are just modern Japanese painting. I think they are used new techonology.



There are in front of me, closing eyes
(私の前にいる、目を閉じている)

 

I found I chose only woman artists...

There are lot of any other modern artists of Japanese painting.

 

 

 

Next week, I introduce museum of Japanese painting. See you!

 

 

Possible Sources:

 http://www.hirayama-museum.or.jp/hirayama-ikuo/index.htm (Ikuo Hirayama)

http://aguriuchida.com/(Aguri Uchida)

http://matsuifuyuko.com/index.html (Huyuko Matsui)

いのちの煌めき　田渕俊夫展　（book / Toshio Tabuchi ）



7. Painting Circles

 There are three circles on Japanese painting. Each circles has history and different characteristic. I introduce them in this week. They are interesting individually.

Nihonbijutuin (日本美術院)

History

Nihonbijutuin is the study circle that was founded to achieve the maintenance and development of Japanese painting by Tenshin Okakura. Tenshin was principal of Tokyo School of Fine Arts originally. He left it, and he thought that establishment of bijutuin(美術院 study place of art) was necessary in art school. So he founded this circle with Japanese painting artists who resigned the school together. Exhibitions of region were held actively from the beginning. Then magazines named “nihonbijutu,”and workshop were set up. And extensive actives, for example repair of national treasure, were developed under Tenshin’s directions. However, new technique that was created there suffered severe reputation. This technique received a favorable review foreign country, but Nihonbijutuin broke down on management. In 1904, Nihonbijutuin revised regulation and changed organization. And Tenshin and other artists moved Goura. They live there in rigor, but they created works that received a favorable review in the life.

　In 1913, Tenshin died. However, spitits of Tenshin was taken over, and Nihonbijutuin was revived. Then Nihonbijutuin was leaded now. And now, this is for only Japanese painting.

Exhibitions

 Exhibition of Nihonbijutuin is known by the name of “inten(院展).” Inten was constituted coterie and public. It has two exhibitions.

Inten of spring (春の院展)

This is held from the beginning of April for two weeks at Mitsukoshi's flagship store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo every year. It go the round of 10 spots of Japan for four mouths.

Revival Inten (再興院展)

This is held from the beginning of September for two weeks at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum every year. It go round of 10 spots of Japan for a year. The regulation size is bigger than Inten of spring.

Artists (I introduce them next week)

Ikuo Hirayama / Toshio Tabuchi / Chiori Miyakita

The SOGA-kai（創画会）

The SOGA-kai was settle up as creative art in 1948. This association seeks new Japanese painting and this is unconcerned about traditional Japanese painting. Style is free in comparison with other cycles.

Exhibition

SOGA-ten of spring

This exhibition is a size 50 Japanese painting. It is held in Tokyo, Kyoto and other prefecture.

SOGA-ten

This exhibition is a size 150 Japanese painting. It is held in Tokyo, Kyoto, Aichi and other prefecture.

Artists(I introduce them next week.)

 Huku Akino / Aguri Uchida

Ｎｉｔｔｅｎ(日展) 

History
In 1900, Nobuaki Makino who was Austria Minister at that time wanted to hold public exhibition because he realized oversea culture keenly. He became the Minister of Education and achieved this dream in 1906. And next years, exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education (Bunten) was held for the first time. Bunten changed name again and again, and then it became “Nitten.” Nitten has lead art world of Japan and made long history, about 100 years.
Nitten has five parts of arts, including Japanese painting.
(Five parts … Japanese painting, Western painting, carving, industrial arts, calligraphy)

Exhibition
 It is held on autumn in The National Art Center (Tokyo) every year.




 I went to these exhibition last year. I felt that these has different atmosphere. I think you can't see this only reading this blog. So I recommend you to go these exhibition.

Next week, I'm going to introduce modern artists. See you!



Possible Sources: Nihonbijutuin HP (http://nihonbijutsuin.or.jp/)
                        　The SOGA-kai HP (http://www.sogakai.or.jp/)
                       　 Nitten HP (http://www.nitten.or.jp/)

6. Schools for the study of painting

 In this week, I explain schools for the study of Japanese painting.
 Japanese painting has long history. (Details were explained on week 2.) We could see that modern Japanese paintings are professional paintings, especially in from Muromach period to Edo period. Artists in these period followed painting as a profession. Schools for the study of painting were generated and came down. So I introduce three schools in those period.

Muromach period

 Tosa school
 In this period, Japanese original paintings took root.
Artist in this period succeeded tradition of Yamato-e and developed it. For example, motifs are Japanese four seasons and events that is seen in Yamato-e. And they developed it. 
Above all, Artists of Tosa shool are attached to the Imperial Court and shogunate. 

(Hamamatsu-zu byobu)

 This was painted by artist of Tosa school. Motif that expressed each season are painted on this painting.
 Tosa school lasted for 150 years. they not only adopted Yamato-e but also Kan-ga(Chinese painting). So their painting went well with each period.

Edo period

Kano school
 They attended the Edo Shogunate and Japanese feudal lord. So a lot of wall painting that decorated inside of castle painted.
Their school lasted by succession. Kano school had a lot of pupils. Their education is to copy old Japanese painting. So paintings of Kano had little character. But some artists of Kano had talent and exercised it. And artists of other school studied at Kano school at first. So meaning that Kano school carried out is great.

(ryotei-zu byobu / Tanyu Kano)

 This is the painting that was painted situation preach wisdom of Confucianism. Confucianism was preferred on the Edo Shogunate. This is just artist of shoggunate.



Kano artists who educated regular technique were given licenses. Like this, Kano schools established hereditary system, and spread on the whole Japan. And they lasted for 400 years.


Rimpa school
 Rimpa school is not hereditary system as Tosa school and Kano school is it. It is succeeded by artists who didn’t have student relationship. They succeeded it independently. Characteristic of Rimpa school is the point that deal with not only paintings but also handwork. For example, fan and kimono was.
 Korin Ogata is derivation name of “Rimpa.”He studied technique of Sotatsu Tawaraya and created original touch. His works are graceful and he was particular about composition of room of painting.

Kakitsubata-zu byobu / Korin Ogata

This is his work. His painting style is called “pattern of Korin” and this is used on kimono now.








 I chose three schools to represent the school of Japanese painting. There are lot of schools any others. And I think we can say that modern Japanese painting is integration of these schools. Japanese adopted a lot of other culture and studied it, besides developed it. This characteristic of Japanese support modern Japanese painting. I think possibility of Japanese painting is unlimited.

 Did you understand about schools for the study of Japanese painting? Each schools are very interesting. So see a lot of works of each schools.

 Next week, I’m going to introduce painting circles. This is modern Japanese painting.
See you (^^)

5. Traditional technology

Today, I’m going to introduce traditional technology. Materials that I introduced on blog on week 3 are used in traditional technology. Traditional technologies that were created in long history come down until now.
 First, I introduce tarashikomi use with sumi. I show example of work to explain it.

 Tarashikomi(たらし込み)

"Kohakubai-zu byobu" (The Folding Screen of Red and White Plum Blossoms) by Korin Ogata

Korin is the artist of Rimpa school in Edo period. I’ll explain detail of it on next week.
Tarashikomi is used on this picture.

Sumi and mineral pigments are used in tarashikomi. Trashikomi is to drop colors on picture and color to cause liquid to seep into paper or cloth.
For example, Sumi is dropped on part of dropping sumi that hasn’t dried yet on this picture.
Tarashikomi is beautiful expression that is created incidentally.

Momigami
　Momigami is expression of paper. It is made by crumpling paper. Mashi that is used on Japanese painting is strong. Even though it was crumpled, it doesn’t tear.
How to make are many and various. In this blog, I introduce own way.
Materials to use are acrylic paints (or sumi) and dyed mud pigments. (About materials … week3) When I make Momigami, I paint acrylic paints on mashi first. And next, I paint dyed mud pigments on it over and over again. (In this time, color is different. Dark color is better for acrylic paints.) When dried it, crumple mashi. Then only dyed mud pigments crack up.
That is this picture.

Momigami is often used on modern Japanese painting.




 Next, I introduce orthodox process of how to paint Japanese painting. There are some processes until finish it.

1. Rough sketch
We sketch what we want to paint first. In this time, paper is not mashi. We usually use kraft paper or shintorinoko paper or drawing paper.

2. Transcription (転写)
Next, we trace with tracing paper because drawing paper is thick. Kraft paper and shintorino paper don’t have to trace because they are thin. And finish it, trace it on mashi.
3. Kotsugaki (骨描き) and Kumadori (隈取り)
Kotsugaki is work that paint no strength and weakness line. Fine-point brush and sumi are used on kotsugaki. Kumadori is gradate sumi and shade with sumi. A whole atmosphere of painting decided on this work.

4. ColorⅠ… dyed mud pigment
 Next, go to painting color. It is foundation. Dyed mud pigments and gohun is used on this work before mineral pigments in effect. Only mineral pigments, it is difficult to fix on paper because mineral pigment’s grain is rough. Dyed mud pigment’s grain is fine. So it is easy to fix mineral pigments on paper.

5. ColorⅡ …mineral pigments
Finally, go to paint mineral pigments. It paints from fine pigments. It can paint tickly.


That is all about process of how to paint. If you had interest, I recommend you to paint Japanese painting.


Next week, I’m going to introduce schools for the study of Japanese painting. It conspire history on week 2 blog. So you better to read week 2 blog.
Thank you for reading. See you!

4. Japanese painting and Western painting

Japanese painting and Western painting are quite different. I introduce Japanese painting as I compare with Western painting.

 First, I easily explain characteristics of Western painting. Let’s see from Romanesque.

Romanesque (11~12th century)

Christ of glory

 People painted pictures of bible to propagate Christianity. Churches were made, and fresco paintings were painted indoor walls. They replaced bible.

Gothic (12~15^th century)

The Annunciation and Two Saints / Simone Martini

 Italy was prosperous wall painting. And tempera painting were painted there. They became more realistic and human.

Renaissance (15~16^th century)

Mona Liza / Leonardo da Vinci

  Renaissance means regeneration of the classic culture of anthropocentricity. People paid attention to realistic. Perspective was invented and realistic human body expression was attained because sketches and study of anatomical human body were advanced.

Baroque (17~18^th century)

Descent from the Cross / Peter Paul Rubens

Baroque means crooked pearl in Portuguese. Dramatic expression of light and shadow were created. Dynamic expression was formed in this time.

Impressionists (19^th century)

Grainstack. (Sunset.)  /Claude Monet

 It is painted with the three primary colors and purple, green and orange. And they are made by short touch. A motif is close things. For example, scenery of city and outskirts were painted.

 Western painting has history and characteristic like these.

Paintings of history and myth were painted until 19^th century. However, in the low 19^th century, industrial revolution happened and people’s consciousness changed. So people got to paint landscapes. And there is other important event in relationship between Western painting and Japanese painting in the late 19^th century. It was Paris Exposition. A lot of works of Japanese art were exhibited there. Especially, artist of Impressionists were influences by them. For example, vivid color of Ukiyo-e spurred study of color by western artist who started to have question artist’s training with industrial revolution.

Next, I want to point differences between Western painting and Japanese painting seen in history.

First of all, styles are different. Old Western painting was painted realistically and there were no line. However, old Japanese painting was not realistic and there were line. (See blog of week 2.)

Now motifs are different too. Painting of history and myth were painted traditionally in Western painting. Motif was mainly got and people in old Western painting. But got and people was not painted in old Japanese painting. Japanese were interested in natural motif. Old Japanese were preferred nature. For example, Hiroshige Utagawa who is artist of Ukiyo-e painted a lot of landscape. Vincent van Gogh who is artist Impressionists was touched by artist of Ukiyo-e.

 Western painting and Japanese painting are widely different these points. We can read these differences with seeing history. But there are common points too. Old Western painting and Japanese painting replaced photos. So Western painting was realistic. And a lot of landscapes were painted for people who could not go to separate locality in old Japanese painting.

Modern Western painting and Japanese painting work on each other.

That is all in this week. Did you understand differences between Japanese painting and Western painting? Next week, I’m going to introduce traditional technology of Japanese painting. It is how to use materials. Please look forward to next blog!


reference data: 「すぐわかる日本の美術」田中日佐夫