Friday, November 14, 2014

SHOGA

At this point it shouldn't come as a surprise that I love good brushwork on clay or paper and the illustrated screen is no exception. Created by the avant-garde expressionist calligrapher, Morita Shinryu (1912-1998) this work is both powerful, expressive and visual poetry. During his lifetime, Morita was a major influence on calligraphers and expressionist painter in Japan and abroad and ranks as one of the most important calligraphers of the 20th century. Painted on gold flecked paper, these two bold kanji command their surface and hold the attention of the viewer whether you can read them or not; they are pure ink expression(ism) and raw emotion. Few have the spirit, confidence and intuitive ability necessary to make spontaneity work as well as Morita Shinryu.
"The final test of a painting, theirs, mine, any other, is; does the painter's emotions come across?"  Franz Kline (1910-1962)