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Masaaki Miyasako: Living Dreams
2023年10月26日 - 11月22日

Masaaki Miyasako: Living Dreams

Past exhibition
  • Overview
  • 作品
  • Director's Letter
  • Public Collections
  • Press release
  • Bamiyan Viewing Room
  • Publications
  • Events
  • ビデオ
  • Overview
    Masaaki Miyasako: Living Dreams
    Ippodo Gallery presents legendary painter Masaaki Miyasako for his premier solo exhibition in the United States from October 26 to November 22, 2023.  He returns to his signature Nihonga painting medium after leading Tokyo University’s special projects division for a half-decade.

     

    Miyasako's unique approach to line—almost verging on pointillism—draws on traditional Japanese techniques of portraying shadows and space to a profound effect. Moreover, Miyasako deploys sheets of washi paper and silk to create a voluminous surface and exaggerate the extraordinary brush strokes. 

     

    As the Professor Emeritus of Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts, Masaaki Miyasako was appointed by Japan's Agency of Cultural Affairs to lead art specialists in the reproduction of global heritage that was otherwise thought to be unrecoverable. Their success, 'The Clone Cultural Properties' project, restored irreplaceable treasures and created perfect replicas of some of the world's greatest works of art.

     

    Exhibition opens October 26, 2023 and the artist will travel from Japan for an opening reception from 5–8 PM. 

    • All visitors are welcome Thurs.—Sat. 11:00AM to 6:00PM. 
    • Gallery open by appointment only Mon.—Wed. 11:00AM to 6:00PM.

     

     

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  • 作品
    • Masaaki Miyasako Firework 'Aqua' - Eternal Moment - 水花火, 2023 Byoubu Screens
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Firework 'Aqua' - Eternal Moment - 水花火, 2023
      Byoubu Screens
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Saku Zen-Living Dreams - 錯然, 2023 Calligraphy
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Saku Zen-Living Dreams - 錯然, 2023
      Calligraphy
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Concerto - 協奏曲, 2023 Painting
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Concerto - 協奏曲, 2023
      Painting
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Melody of Flowers - 円舞曲, 2023 Mineral pigments, sumi charcoal, natural glue, washi paper, silk
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Melody of Flowers - 円舞曲, 2023
      Mineral pigments, sumi charcoal, natural glue, washi paper, silk
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Lingering Scent - 残香, 2023 Painting
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Lingering Scent - 残香, 2023
      Painting
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Offering - 供物, 2023 Painting
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Offering - 供物, 2023
      Painting
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Red, Green, Red - 赤緑赤, 2023 Painting
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Red, Green, Red - 赤緑赤, 2023
      Painting
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      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMasaaki%20Miyasako%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3ERed%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3EGreen%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3ERed%20-%20%E8%B5%A4%E7%B7%91%E8%B5%A4%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EPainting%3C/div%3E
    • Masaaki Miyasako Suite - 組曲, 2023 Painting
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Suite - 組曲, 2023
      Painting
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Fantasia - 幻想曲, 2023 Painting
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Fantasia - 幻想曲, 2023
      Painting
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Blush - 淡紅, 2023 Painting
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Blush - 淡紅, 2023
      Painting
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    • Masaaki Miyasako Prayer - いのり, 2023 Calligraphy
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Prayer - いのり, 2023
      Calligraphy
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      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMasaaki%20Miyasako%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EPrayer%20-%20%E3%81%84%E3%81%AE%E3%82%8A%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3ECalligraphy%3C/div%3E
    • Masaaki Miyasako Shiki-Fu-I-Ku | Ku-Fu-I-Shiki - 色不異空 空不異色, 2023 Calligraphy
      Masaaki Miyasako
      Shiki-Fu-I-Ku | Ku-Fu-I-Shiki - 色不異空 空不異色, 2023
      Calligraphy
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      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMasaaki%20Miyasako%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EShiki-Fu-I-Ku%20%7C%20Ku-Fu-I-Shiki%20-%20%E8%89%B2%E4%B8%8D%E7%95%B0%E7%A9%BA%20%E7%A9%BA%E4%B8%8D%E7%95%B0%E8%89%B2%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3ECalligraphy%3C/div%3E
    • Masaaki Miyasako The Four Seasons - 春夏秋冬, 2023 Calligraphy
      Masaaki Miyasako
      The Four Seasons - 春夏秋冬, 2023
      Calligraphy
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      %3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EMasaaki%20Miyasako%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EThe%20Four%20Seasons%20-%20%E6%98%A5%E5%A4%8F%E7%A7%8B%E5%86%AC%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22comma%22%3E%2C%20%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3ECalligraphy%3C/div%3E
  • Director's Letter
    Miyasako’s first solo exhibition in the United States embraces the theme of ‘Saku Zen.’ The four seasons; spring, summer, fall, and winter are depicted as blending into the memories of different regions of the world. Named for musical compositions, the series sings with resonances, frequencies, and vibrations. Using wood and old fabrics carrying historic meaning from around the world, he continues to carve calligraphy as if in prayer. Miyasako’s paintings unveil a world where opposites intersect and naturally mesh: color and void, life and death, light and shadow, self and others, good and bad, the moment and eternity. Rather, Miyasako’s universe defines no boundaries between them. To him, painting is both living and dreaming. In Miyasako’s words; “the fresh life of a painting begins in the space between two moments.” In days to come, and even now, Miyasako stands in the dimension between dreams and reality, seeking—circuitously—the most earnest brush stroke.

    Director's Letter

    Sublime Ephemera
    Shoko Aono

    Cast above the blue river, the fisherman’s net stretches out in a circle and sinks. The afterglow of falling fireworks ignites the summer night sky. The weeping cherry blossoms flounce with the spring breeze, scattering a faint fragrant scent. Miyasako’s paintings are the very image of a mind that is forever tinged with the moment that is fluid and fleeting. They are filtered projections of Miyasako’s heart—membranes that purify the exterior world and reflect the viewer’s interior world. This is the beauty of the heart that cannot be expressed overtly: the meaning of Miyasako’s saying, “Saku Zen.”

     

    In Miyasako’s words; “If you were to search a Japanese dictionary for the word spoken as 'ura,' meaning ‘back’ or ‘backside’ you will find among the characters that which means ‘heart.’” In Japanese culture, this symbol effectively conveys the spiritual sensibility that permeates the painting, and the impression that the heart lives within. Miyasako’s Nihonga paintings further develop a traditional back-painting technique, which originated in the Heian period, called urazaishiki. What is truly important—the essence—is invisible. To soften the excessively harsh reality and stall the cruel effects of time, the artist paints black lines in sumi ink and mineral pigments on the back of washi paper. Adhered as a backing, the image is tempered by the layering of a new sheet of paper rubbed with pigment and crumpled by hand. Then, covering the surface in silk, Miyasako reapplies brushes to enrich the scene. Between these layers, colors seep into the surface and meld into those that emerge from the back-painting until past and present become intertwined. Miyasako’s points, lines, and colors echo the spiral: a deep, high, and never-ending path.

  • Public Collections

    Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, Japan

    Ueda City Museum of Art, Japan

    Tokyo National Museum of Western Art, Japan

    Koganji Temple, Japan

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs Embassy in Tokyo, Japan

    Kimpusen-ji Temple, Japan

    Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan

    Türkiye Japan Cultural Dialog Society, Japan

    Shimane Art Museum, Japan

    Mercedes-Benz Museum, Germany

    Adachi Museum of Art, Japan

    The State Russian Museum, Russia

    Yamatane Museum of Art, Japan

    Museum of the Orient, Lisbon, Portugal

    Menard Art Museum, Japan

    Pitti Modern Art Museum, Italy

    Toyota Museum, Japan

    Residence of the Prime Minister of Japan, and many more.

  • Press Release

    [i] Japan’s government recognized Miyasako’s role as a leader in the fine arts and conservation when he was appointed research lead for the Institute for Knowledge and Inspiration (IKI), endowed by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, from 2013 to 2021. Despite conservation efforts around the world, irreplaceable treasures of human creation disappear without a trace. Under Miyasako’s supervision, IKI initiated the ‘Clone Cultural Properties Project,’ which developed new technologies for the restoration of significant artworks with scientific accuracy. Guided by Miyasako’s vision and the collective work of world museums, Tokyo University of the Arts and IKI recreated countless masterpieces, including the cave paintings destroyed in Bamiyan in 2001, and a lost version of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.”

     

    [ii] His artworks are included in major collections around the world, including the Tokyo National Museums of Modern Art and Western Art; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Embassy in Tokyo; Adachi Museum of Art; Koganji and Kimpusen-ji Temples; Türkiye Japan Cultural Dialog Society; The State Russian Museum; Museum of the Orient in Lisbon; the Pitti Modern Art Museum in Italy, and many more.

    Press Release

    New York, NY – Ippodo Gallery is honored to present Masaaki Miyasako: Living Dreams the legendary painter’s premier solo exhibition in the United States. Miyasako’s work is praised for evolving the historical Nihonga painting technique urazaishiki, a traditional back-painting method invented between the Heian and Kamakura periods (794–1333). Miyasako’s pictures represent romantic visions of life, nature, and the change of seasons in East and Southeast Asia. After leading the Institute of Knowledge and Inspiration collaboration between Tokyo University of the Arts and the Japanese government for a half-decade,[i] Miyasako reclaims his mantle as the greatest and most accomplished Nihonga painter of the present.

     

    Eight large paintings, one four-panel folding screen, and ten calligraphy and sculptures display Masaaki Miyasako’s (b.1951) transcendent sense of the invisible and unspoken dimension. Miyasako’s paintings invite you to enter the sublime and ephemeral world of tender imagination. Where dots, lines, and colors become intertwined, Miyasako embeds a certain poetic sentiment between the brush strokes. Raised in the Izumo region (present-day Shimane prefecture)—known for Japanese original mythologies and tales—Miyasako’s roots in history and culture nurtured his fascination with timelessness.

     

    The centerpiece of the exhibition and Miyasako’s signature, “Firework ‘Aqua’/Eternal Moment” is a vivid memory of the Go-no River in his hometown in Shimane prefecture. The cast net—which fans out in perpetuity—is an auspicious symbol of luck, fortune, and prosperity.

     

    Miyasako’s exquisite approach to the scene is imbued with veiled storytelling. The spiral, figuring as a central philosophy, is Miyasako’s method of establishing the composition; working from the center outwards, each dot gradually accumulates until the image emerges as an ensemble. Linear perspective and modeling of light with shadow, the hallmarks of classical Western painting, are of no use to Miyasako. Instead, he creates depth and beckons the eye to sink into the expanse of dots by layering three sheets of washi paper—one withered and translucent, another called momigami which is rubbed and feathered for texture, and kozo paper. Then topped with fine silk, Miyasako captures the immense beauty of the earth by applying precious minerals such as malachite and azurite to the surface with a traditional white cat-hair and martin brush.

     

    Moving to Tokyo as a young adult, Miyasako first studied design at Tokyo University of the Arts, and then returned to the university to master Nihonga and conservation. Miyasako developed his skills by examining Japanese masterworks, such as the murals at Horyuji’s Golden Temple Wall. Attuned to the deterioration of world arts, he traveled throughout Asia, the Middle East, and South America on research missions, steadily amassing a collection of eclectic relics along the way. When Miyasako became a full professor in the department of painting at Tokyo University of the Arts, his paintings had already earned many prestigious awards and exhibited in museums and institutions across Asia and Europe.[ii]

     

    The place where inner memories encounter the real world, the premise of Miyasako’s latest assemblage is an orchestrated illustration of dreams wrought from reality.

  • Bamiyan Viewing Room

  • Publications
    • Frank Feltens's Contributing Essay — Living Dreams

      Frank Feltens's Contributing Essay — Living Dreams

      October 2023 Read more
  • Events
    • Opening Reception - October 26, 5-8 PM

      Opening Reception - October 26, 5-8 PM

      Masaaki Miyasako: Living Dreams 2023年10月26日
      New York, NY – Ippodo Gallery presents Masaaki Miyasako: Living Dreams , the legendary Nihonga painter's first solo exhibition in the United States. Ippodo Gallery is featuring his latest paintings and folding screen, sculptures, and calligraphy, on view from October 26 to November 22, 2023 . The place where inner memories encounter the real world, the premise of Miyasako’s latest assemblage is an orchestrated illustration of dreams wrought from reality. The artist will travel to New York to join Ippodo Gallery for an opening reception on October 26, 2023.
      Read more
  • ビデオ
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