Imagine!!

Not for Sale.

This is a poem from Yoko Ono that is said to inspire John Lennon to write "Imagine". The poem that uses only imperative forms is sensational.
In it, I saw her strong will and the way of life.

My partners "SANBA"

Today I would like to talk about my partners, brushes…
One of my favorite brushes is a sanba (山馬) brush.
Sanba means “mountain (山) horse (馬)” but it’s not of horsehair. It’s made of hair of a wild deer that lives in the interior Vietnam, and because that wild deer is called “sanma” in that area, it was named “sanba” using kanji山 (san) and馬 (uma) (which is pronounced as sanba as one word). The left in the picture is the sanba, and the right is a common brush.

It has the hardest hair of the brushes. Now the number of wild deer has decreased in Vietnam, which has made the sanba brushes difficult to obtain and expensive.
The picture shows the four brothers of sanba (laugh). The sanba brush with long hair is expensive, and it doesn’t last long while it is expensive…
It is a hassle to wash the brush, and as each hair is coarse, it gets broken if it is washed hard.
When writing with it…it feels hard!

Sanba hair does not contain a lot of ink because of its nature.
Scratchy, strong, and sharp lines are its characteristics, but because this brush is difficult to write with, it’s not common.
Also, there is an interesting brush called nanayou sansaba (七羊三山馬).
This is a unique brush with soft wool and sanba in the ratio of 7 to 3.

I use these brushes depending on the atmosphere of words and poems to be written, and what I like about the sanba brush is its uncalculated lines most of all. Because the brush doesn’t go as I imagine, it can bring unexpectedly interesting lines.

Calligraphy,"SAKANA" The Fish

This kanji 魚 is for fish, from word KINBUN 金文 (ancient letters that were engraved on copper wares in the Bronze Age in China).

In summer, fishes cheerfully jump out of the water. (Summer from the four seasons tapestries)

September

As scheduled in September I got out of shape because of accumulated busyness in the summer. Also I had no free time as usual.

On September 28, the collaboration between Ms. Y, a calligrapher whom I respect, and a famous artist, was held in “Akiyoshidai International Art Village” which is famous for the calcareous cave. Creating impromptu works for two hours each in the morning and afternoon was collision of talents, which showed us the great process of creation and works.

However it was a phrase from Mr. Y’s free talk that was strongly impressive to me - the faith to “write a work that remains for thousand years”.
I have heard these words once before. He advised me to “write a work that remains for thousand years” when I was dithering. He told his clear decision to me. I felt grateful again.

Ms. Y is now lives out of a wheelchair. Being handicapped, she is rather enjoying all of her life saying “I don’t think I am unhappy now. I can write characters that I can write only now.”
When writing on a big piece of paper while she is in the wheelchair, a brush (her arm) cannot reach it. She uses a brush with an extended shaft.
I am moved to tears by her positive and strong way to live and inconvenience that cannot be avoid after all…

The beautiful sound of “thousand years” surges. In contrast to the beautiful sound, I have to make a heavy decision…
I think I have to be prepared to face the endless flow of time.

結 MUSUBU – Mother–Daughter Exhibition.

Here's the greeting message in the collection of works from 結 MUSUBU – Mother–Daughter Exhibition.

On April 6, 2001, my mother passed away peacefully as if she finished fulfilling the mission to live.
Even in the hard battle with the disease, she never whined and continued to care people around her till the end all her life.Her hobbies were flower arrangement and yokyoku, but what is left in a physical form is her ink painting that she started in her later years.
On “Obon”, when my mother is coming back again this year, it is great pleasure that I can hold Mother-Daughter Exhibition of my dream, adding my works of calligraphy to her ink paintings.
While I was organizing the works, I realized – many things connect me and my mother somewhere deep and invisible.

Mother-Daughter Exhibition has been named “結 MUSUBU”.
Most of the works are amateurish, but it is honorable if you kindly look at the proof that my mother certainly lived her life and myself struggling on the way.

August 12, 2008 Miki Otake


Despite the busy season of Obon, many people visited the exhibition. People who are deeply linked to my mother also gathered despite their advanced age.
I am profoundly grateful. To tell the truth, my memory during the period of the exhibition is vague. Although I can recall scenes in fragments, I can’t recall the flow of those six days smoothly (this is also a reason that the blog was delayed). It is clearly different from the past fatigue from the intracompany exhibition.
Again I think it was such a big project for me to exhibit my mother’s works. And I am surprised to notice many things. Everyone said, “you are filial to your mother”, and “your mother is happy". Simply I wish so – I wish my mother were happy.

Indeed what my mother left was ink paintings, but what Mother-Daughter Exhibition left was not only that. I can’t express it with words because I haven't comprehended it myself, but it appears to be homework that I will slowly solve in my life. There is much of it, just like a puzzle that will never be completed, which appears that it is my task of “musubu” (tying or knotting) to pass it on to my daughters. Mother-Daughter Exhibition has ended, but there are more things that have started from here. I feel grateful.
To everyone who has opened this blog, I'm sorry that this must be difficult to understand. It is impossible to tell something vague even for myself. I’m very sorry. But I’m glad if you sense something from my feelings.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to all the people for giving flowers to, extending courtesies to, and visiting Mother-Daughter Exhibition. Thank you very much.

One more thing at the very end – explanation of the invitation.
Phalaenopsis orchid blooming from the same stem is my mother (somehow there were always Phalaenopsis orchids beside her), and Casa Blanca lily is me (my favorite flower). The Casa Blanca lily has two buds. I am looking forward to seeing how these two buds bloom.

The unicorn, fairy and wizard – I could believe in all of them even though I couldn’t see them

Since when did you lost belief in the world of fantasy?

Why do you strongly say that there is no such thing like that?

I do believe that there are worlds that we can find with pure hearts. I hope the forest-like picture frame will help you gain belief in the world of fairy tales once again.

“結 MUSUBU” Mother-Daughter Exhibition

I would like to let you know details of Mother-Daughter Exhibition. It’s a busy season, but please set a schedule to visit us.

Title of the exhibition: “結 MUSUBU” Mother-Daughter Exhibition by Hisako Shinozaki and Miki Otake

Period: August 12 (Tue) – 17 (Sun), 2008
10:00 – 18:00 (-17:00 on the final day)

Venue: Gallery 1, Elgala Hall, 7th floor
1-4-2, Tenjin, Fukuoka
phone: 092-711-5017

Content: About 40 works of Hisako’s ink painting and Miki’s calligraphy

Mother-Daughter Exhibition is held on “Obon”, when my mother who passed away 7 years ago will come back again this year. My mother has left ink painting, and I live in the world of calligraphy. While organizing works, now I realize – many deep and strong things that connected me and my mother. Mother-Daughter Exhibition has been named “結 MUSUBU”.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the venue☆