Akemi's Blog

At SAAM? Don't miss the Ikebana flower arrangement display

If you visit Seattle Art Museum (SAM) downtown or Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) in Capital Hill neighborhood, don't miss a beautiful Ikebana flower arrangement displayed in the museum.

Ikebana International (I.I.) is a worldwide organization with a mission to promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and other countries through the introduction of ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement). Originally founded in Tokyo in 1956 with 20 members, I.I. now has 161 chapters in over 50 countries and over 7,600 members.

Chartered in 1959, I.I. Seattle Chapter #19 has been actively contributing to the community with volunteer works. Members of I.I. Seattle Chapter #19 take turns to arrange flowers at SAM and SAAM every week.

In display that day was an arrangement by Lily Chang, the current chapter president.  

Mood Indigo: Textiles from Around the World

Currently showing at SAAM is "Moon Indigo: Textiles from Around the World." As the title indicates, you can see its rich collection of textiles that use indigo dye from all over the world.  

The main Japanese art collections on display were many kimonos, Yogi (kimono-shaped bedding), and Futon covers. I never dreamed that such ordinary items as Futon covers could be museum items. Well, each piece was far from ordinary.

Carp design Futon cover

Pictured on this Futon cover is a military ship called the Katori which carried Crown Prince Hirohito - the first Japanese prince to travel abroad - to Great Britain in 1921.

Yogi is a kimono-shaped bedding. In the northern part of Japan it gets pretty cold in the winter. By wearing this bedding you could avoid the cold air from coming in through the shoulders.

SAAM's indigo kimono collection

Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM)

From June 23 through July 17, I introduced Ms Noriko Kiyota's articles about Japanese silk from the magazine "Japanese Kimono +". I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did. Many thanks to Ms Kiyota for letting me share her articles on my blog. I'm very much looking forward to interviewing Japan's craftspeople together with Ms Kiyota in the future.

Taking a little break from her magazine, I would like to share with you the latest exhibition at Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM).

SAAM was erected in 1933. The beautiful Art Deco building was a donation from Dr. Richard Fuller to the city of Seattle. Although SAAM's collection is not as enormous as that of Museum of Fine Arts in Boston or Metropolitan Museum in New York City, SAAM is unique that the whole building is dedicated to Asian art.  

Dr. Fuller also donated his Asian art collections, and thanks to him now we can enjoy many wonderful works of art without traveling across the Pacific Ocean.  

One of my favorite artworks is, with no question, the Deer Scroll. This scroll is a collaboration between the accomplished painter Tawaraya Sotatsu and calligrapher Honami Koetsu, together the founders of Rinpa School in 17th century Kyoto.

SAAM has created an interactive site to fully appreciate this masterpiece.

Seattle Asian Art Museum

 

Ito Jakuchu would have been 300 years old this year

This year marks the 300th anniversary since the birth of Ito Jakuchu, a master painter born in Kyoto.

The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC had an exhibition of Ito Jakuchu's "Colorful Realm of Living Beings"–a set of 30 bird-and-flower paintings on display from March 30 through April 29, 2012.

For those of you who don't about Jakuchu, the video below (PBS in 2012) is an excellent introduction to his work.

Who commissioned the Ashura statue? It was a woman

There is no way of knowing who actually made the Ashura Statue. It may have been a craftsman from China, or a local person who was trained in the particular way of making Buddhist statues using Urushi.

The person who commissioned the Ashura Statue, however, is known as Komyo Kogo (光明皇后). She had Saikon-do (西金堂), a building which housed the statue, built in 734 in order to commemorate her mother who had passed away a year before. Komyo Kogo also donated over 600 items to Todai-ji Temple Shoso-in (正倉院). Thanks to her, we can see beautiful artifacts that are over 1,300 years old. 

 

Here is what the Museum Yamato Bunkakan looks like

The Museum Yamato Bunkakan was opened by Kintetsu, a major railway company in Kansai area in Japan, in 1960 to celebrate its 50th anniversary of founding. Railway companies in Japan were also major real estate developers along their own railways, and Kintetsu was no exception. It's little wonder why Kintetsu owns such vast property for its private museum.

The white exterior of the museum building reminds you of how Japanese castles in Momoyama Period (16th century) would have looked like. The spacious garden surrounding the building is an ideal place if you would like a moment of contemplation.

Here are some photos I took a couple of weeks ago.

Entrance to the museum

Walk way to the museum building

The museum building 

 

 
View from the museum. The water you see is said to be Japan's oldest man-made lake.

A Hidden Gem in Nara: The Museum Yamato Bunkakan

The Museum Yamato Bunkakan is only four stations away from Nara Park, yet it's so quiet.

There you can see this magnificent screen which is one of the national treasures. After being overwhelmed by Japan's largest buddha in Todai-ji Temple and countless people at the Nara Park, why not take a detour to this hidden gem in Nara.   

Screens of women engaged in various amusements (The Matsuura screens),right screen

By Unknown (the former attribution to Iwasa Matabei is not now regarded as credible) 日本語: 岩佐又兵衛 [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

Is it really necessary?

In front of the entrance to the "The Art of Zen from Mind Form" exhibition, there is a large copy of Kano Sanraku's screen. I tried to take a photo of the sign without this mascot but was not successful.

Recently I see so many mascots created to associate with an event or a place. I guess this mascot was created for this exhibition. My question is how effective is this mascot for promoting this event.... At least it didn't please me.

 

Want to see the Origin of Japanese Anime? Visit Nara National Museum!

Emaki (絵巻) is a horizontal narrative picture scroll, and is a distinctive format in East Asia. From right to left a story is unfolded with pictures and texts.

Created in the 12th century, Shigisan Engi Emaki (信貴山縁起絵巻) is considered to be one of the three greatest narrative scrolls in Japan. Comprised of three separate parts, this scroll tells three different miracle stories of a monk Myoren, who actually lived in the 10th century.  

The stories are full of fantasy as if it were science fiction (a flying rice storage, for example), and every figure painted is full of expression. Together with Choju-Giga (鳥獣戯画), this scroll is often considered to be the origin of Japanese manga or anime.

For the first time in history, you get to see all of the three sets of Shigisan Engi Emaki at once. This exciting exhibition, now showing through May 22 in Nara National Museum is worth seeing if you have a chance. Enjoy!

 

 

Encounter the Art of Zen from Mind to Form, in Kyoto

This year marks the 1150th anniversary since the Rinzai (臨済) school of Zen was established. To celebrate this significant milestone, the Kyoto National Museum is currently holding a special exhibition called "The Art of Zen from Mind to Form."

What is Zen?
How has Zen impacted Japan's culture?
How is Zen applicable to our everyday life?

Now through May 22, this exhibition offers you an opportunity to experience Zen first hand so that you find your own answers to these questions.  Don't miss it!

Also don't forget to visit some of the famous Zen temples in Kyoto like the ones below:

• Ryoan-ji Temple -- best known for its tranquil rock garden
• Nanzen-ji Temple -- famous for its huge gate
• Tenryu-ji Temple -- famous for its beautiful Japanese garden