2018 July 11th to August 5th
The National Art Center, Roppongi 7-22-2, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Category: JAPAN
Musical Paintings Shaku-hatchi
THE TALL TOWER
UNE HAUTE COLONNE
背の高い塔
FACES OF SUNS
DES VISAGES DE SOLEILS
太陽の顔
A PURPLE CLOUD
UN NUAGE VIOLET
紫色の雲
PURE SILK
SOIES PURES
純粋な絹
THE WHITE SPINDLE
LE FUSEAU BLANC
白い糸巻き
MASKED SUNS
DES SOLEILS MASQUÉS
仮面をかぶった太陽
Thanks to the Talented Artists & Philosopher Dr. Paul Briot
Music by Masaki Nakamura
Shodo Paintings by Saiso Shimada
Text by Dr. Paul Briot
Masaki Nakamura, Shakuhachi
Masaki Nakamura 中村仁樹, Shakuhachi
Nakamura composed 6 original shaku-hatchi recordings inspired by Dr. Paul Briot’s poetic essay, Le Rayonnant, un art vers l’infini 2017 published by Éditions Caractères.
He first fell in love with the painting Faces of Suns and asked the shodo artist Saiso Shimada to lend it to him for a few days. Staring at the painting he was stirred to create music for the composition and become intrigued by the new direction in Saiso Shimada’s shodo work. When she explained that she was meditating and creating works of art, he decided to join a session. The strong experience lead him to create new spontaneous works of art with Saiso Shimada and Beyond Our Best.
From a family of Buddhist monks, Nakamura was supposed to like his brother, become a monk himself and take the responsibility of the temple. However, something within Nakamura pushed him in a different direction. Instead of being a monk, he decided to pursue the spirit through music.
[Excerpt Taken From the Japan Foundation]
Masaki Nakamura first encountered Shakuhachi at the age of 17. Enchanted by the instrument, he pursued a major in Shakuhachi at the Department of Traditional Japanese Music of the Faculty of Music in Tokyo University of the Arts.
Nakamura won the 6th Shakuhachi Rookie of the Year Competition, the 3rd Tokyo Japanese Music Competition, and the 2nd Western and Japanese Instruments Ensemble Competition. He is also the recipient of a Yomiuri Shimbun Award, a Japan Folk Song Association Award, a Komoda Encouragement Prize and an Uwajima Grand Prize. Since graduating from university he has performed as a guest player at Suntory Hall, Ryogoku Kokugikan, the Embassy of the United States in Japan and other venues throughout Japan. He has also performed overseas including Turkey, Algeria, China, and the United States.
Shaku-Hatchi and Meditative Experience
Nakamura’s original composition brings forth the true resonance of Shakuhachi and projects the natural world and the spirit. He is highly regarded and demanded and a hard man to catch — even for a meditation.
http://www.masaki-nakamura.com
中村仁樹
Shimada Saiso Japanese Calligraphy Shodo
Shimada, born in Yamagata Prefecture, studied under Kaian Tanaka. Her works are on display in Beijing Palace Museum, British Library, Turk Japon Vakfi KuluturMerkezi, Japanisch-Deutsche Gesellchaft, Ukraine National Gallery, and the Lianyungang Museum. Numerous solo and group exhibitions including EU Embassy Tokyo several private gatherings July 2016, Galleries in Ginza Tokyo, Japan November 2017, the Japanese Embassy in Belgium summer 2017, and Paris, France June 2017.
Her work was commissioned to calligraph the signboard at Musahino Imperial Mausoleum (mausoleum complex of JapaneseEmperors).
Most recently works of her art appeared in the philosopher and poet’s book Dr. Paul Briot’s newest 2017 edition of Le Rayonnant…un art vers l’Infini… Her recent book Cosmic Calligraphy, the World of Saiso Shimada (also 2017) is introduced with forward written by the curator of the State Hermitage Museum : Aleksey Bogolyubov, a specialist on Japanese art.
“This wonderous space created by her work brings forth pure emotion and will bring deep healing to people’s hearts and minds.”
— Aleksey Bogolyubov, Curator of the State Hermitage Museum
SAISO SHIMADA: A Rare Combination of Breath, Joy, Energy and Spirit
- Saiso Shimada: Combines Breath, Energy, Joy and Spirit
BREATH
Combines profound knowledge of calligraphy with Zen & over 15 years of Kikou (Qigong). Each stroke is anchored in breath.
It took Nathalie Ishizuka three years to find Saiso Shimada, but it was well worth the wait.
While many artists meditate, Shimada had her own unique style and life exuded from her art with an energy that surprises and heals.
“She uses breath in a way I have never seen before,” says Ishizuka. Each stroke is advanced yoga, each breath channels energy on to the paper for us to enjoy for many many years ahead.
ENERGY
Shimada paints together the present and the future: a flow of energy that is Japan’s spirit pointed upwards like a samurai sword. It is vertical as is the human spirit inciting Japan to move in a new direction and to focus on what is important. The incision is not horizontal, but vertical.
A new transformation through art. Since shodo ink captures energy on paper and can keep it for many many years, sitting in front of one of these paintings is a sure way to enfuse oneself with new life.
After one meditation of Shimada not being her body nor her mind, Shimada’s calligraphy changed as did the energy in the characters. Sitting in front of that painting Ishizuka can still feel its energy. It sits at my desk to enfuse me with its strength.
JOYSpaciousness.
A place where time stops.
Behind each painting is a story, a place, an opening.
SPIRIT
Larger Artworks by Saiso Shimada Provide Strong Energy to a Space
Saiso Shimada Teaches Shodo in Temples in Tokyo and has been asked by organizations to introduce Shodo and Design at high levels including the Top Design Team at Nike.
Faces of Suns
FACES OF SUNS
A field of sunflowers, moving sculptures. The flowers converse, look after one another, bow in all directions. Eyelids of suns. Us.
太陽の顔
ひまわりの畑、動く彫刻。言葉をかわす花々、互いに気遣い合い、さまざまな方向に向かって会釈をしている。太陽のまぶた。私たち。
DES VISAGES DE SOLEILS
Un champ de tournesols, sculptures mobiles. Les fleurs se parlent, s’entretiennent, s’inclinant en tous sens, paupières de soleils. Nous.
Text
Paul Briot, Le rayonnant… un art vers l’Infini… ?, essai, Publisher Caractères, Paris, 2004, 2017
Artists
Shodo Artist Shimada Saiso Interpretation of Author, Dr. Paul Briot
Shaku-Hatchi Artist Masaki Nakamura Interpretation of Author, Dr. Paul Briot
http://www.masaki-nakamura.com/
Publisher
Published by Caracteres, France. Illustrations by Saiso Shimada.
Founded in 1950 the publisher Caracters has published many reknown writers, poets, mystics, and artists including Rainer Maria Rilke, Pablo Neruda, Sri Aurobindo, and Pablo Picasso. The book is available directly from the publisher Editions Caracteres, Paris, France.
http://www.editions-caracteres.fr/catalogue/paul-briot-le-rayonnant-un-art-vers-linfini/
Beyond Our Best : Re-inventing Ourselves Silently
Artists (Architects, Opera, Musicians, Dance, Film, Noh, Scientists & Others) Contact Us to Interpret Passage of Dr. Paul Briot’s work in your Field of Expertise.
Beyond Our Best Experience 