Yes! Beginning a new series.. a new country, a new journey, a new revelation.. a place where the culture and colours are the diametric opposite of vibrant Korea that I last painted.. a place that is uniquely. and sedately. zen.
This, my second visit to Japan after more than a decade, is when I came to understand and appreciate what I did not so many years ago, when I had been literally lost in the translation whilst backpacking in Hokkaido ;p
Hiking the Nakasendo Way (中山道) this time round, a 17th c highway from Kyoto to Edo (ancient Tokyo), I had a beautiful sojourn meandering the land encountering ancient post-towns, inns, teahouses, distance markers in li (里), shinto shrines, deities for protection of travellers, and many a poignant tale of the 劳师动众 (labourious) Princess entourage that travelled to marry the Shogun. Having come full circle on this land, I finally came to love it at last. Of course, having an English-speaking Japanese guide helps immensely :) Thanks! Mario Anton of WalkJapan.
So I came home armed with a thousand photos, and even more wonderful memories, and started to paint. I wasn't quite sure if I can do sedate, but zen, maybe. These 3 paintings are a start. Make what you will of them. They are nuggets, stories from the Nakasendo. And really, we did meet a lovely wedding couple. I knew then that I would paint the bride's stunning kimono gown :) Enjoy the pieces!
Title: Kyoto Dream 京都梦 (O105)
Description: Poignant impressionistic painting of a Japanese lady in pink kimono at the Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺), in dramatic yellow red surreal hues. Nakasendo Way 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Title: The Path 悟之路 (O106)
Description: Whimsical surreal painting in grey monastic tones, inspired by the red lamppost lit stone path, up to the Kumanokōtai Shr ine (熊野皇大神社) in Japan's Nagano Prefecture (长野县). Nakasendo Way 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Title: Japanese Wedding Couple 日本婚礼 (O104)
Description: Portrait painting of a young Japanese couple in traditional wedding wafuku (和服), with the bride in a resplendent red phoenix kimono, accompanied by a whimsical backdrop of purple umbrellas and Japanese lanterns. Nakasendo Way 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas. Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Purchase at: www.saatchiart.com/yen
The journey for this work was as convoluted as the actual climb at Hallasan that I undertook last September, all 5603 feet up Korea's highest mountain, just hoping to catch a glimpse of autumn even though Jeju was unexpectedly as hot as Singa-land during my stay there. Well, that is "Singaporean madness" for you as we come from a land of eternal green.
It was a small peek at fall, literally. Some fallen red leaves on a small patch of the forever rocky path. But I was delirious nevertheless. Even more so than when I was to later reach the summit.
So I painted autumn again which I haven't in a long while. While the composition came easily enough, I struggled with the colour of the ground for a while before I finally got the feel that I wanted, intentionally stark contrast and all. Lyrical yet brittle. Yup, that pretty much sums it up.
Title: Autumn at Hallasan 汉拿山之秋 (O99)
Description: A lyrical fall painting of autumn leaves on a rocky path inspired by the artist's hike way up Mt Hallasan, Korea's highest mountain, just to catch that wee bit of fall. Jeju Notes 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
SOLD.
After a particularly long hot day's hike on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James), we finally reached the village of Molinaseca. It wasn't just relief but a sense of pure discovery joy that greeted the tired pilgrims as we descended from the historic cobblestone Roman Bridge into the narrow main street of this wondrous place.
The quaint architecture and adornments seemed to lean over and speak to me, much like going into a city in ancient times, with the brick walls whispering sounds of pleasure and offering to share secrets from their glorious or perhaps decadent past, luring the visitor to uncover the mysterious charms of the place. Except that the merrymaking sounds were real, the freshness palpable, and the offer of cool respite from a hard day's journey very welcoming as we stepped into the fold of Molinaseca.
Too brief was the visit but I was determined to paint Molinaseca. So I have used a warm palette for the buildings and free colours for the objects, with everything coming alive in a reddish twilight setting to enscapulate the mysterious beckoning spirit of this magical gem of a village.
Title: Solitaire (O53)
Description: A work emoting the sense of wonder, the sense of marvel, the sense of possiblities.. as pilgrims descend into this magical gem of a village on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) pilgrim route called Molinaseca. Spain Camino 2011.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 91 x 61cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
1 comment:
teri close said...
This is Bodegon in contemporary form. Beautiful work of art!
Yes! Beginning a new series.. a new country, a new journey, a new revelation.. a place where the culture and colours are the diametric opposite of vibrant Korea that I last painted.. a place that is uniquely. and sedately. zen. 
