Ikebana- Lisbeth Lerum: Peace Is In Front Of Your Eyes

Ikebana, bildekunst og rispapir

I uken som var hadde jeg den glede av å bli invitert til åpningen av Shian Yuan Yachi sin kunstutstilling. Utstillinger ligger på Fridtjof nansen plass 6 rett bak rådhuset og holdes åpen inntil mars.

Sensei og Shian Yuan Yachi

Painting with ink on rice paper have a long history which can be traced back to 10th century in China, a period of time when it was slightly earlier than the beginning of Song Dynasty (962-1276 AD). This tradition has spread out among East Asia. It is highly connected to metaphysical lines and ink brushstrokes as the core of the aesthetic value. It recreates a transforming natural world with countless expressions of lines and strokes and their harmonies which were inspired by nature. To a certain period around the 17th century as late Ming and early Qing dynasty, these inspirations became dogmatic rules, such as the line rules of painting trees, waterfalls, flowers, houses …the stoke rules of painting stone or earth. Especially works considered as the mainstream throughout the history by the literati-painters. Since the literates honor so highly about the connection between calligraphy and painting. Eventually, it turned out to be a stereotyped format with only grey tones or very few colors which only indicate cold tone and warm tone in between ink as some neutral tone. And all that aesthetics and ideal were served as self-cultivation for noblemen but not women.

As a contemporary ink painter, Shian Yuan Yachi spent years experimenting both limited and expanded usages of media. She reaches out to explore the theme of its painting tradition. She openly practices different techniques using most of the water-based pigment, both classic and modern. Her works were painted on both sides since rice paper is thin enough to show part of strokes according to the speed and strength of hand with the density of ink and color. They are tradition colors made of rocks, earth, shell, and plant, also acrylic, watercolor, gouache. Variants of elements interact differently with rice paper.

The exhibition title - Peace Is In Front Of Your Eyes is named the same from the series exhibited by the square of Oslo City Hall. Shian Yuan Yachi reflects the outlook on life in responding to her current status as a new Oslo resident in her art life. Her inspiration draws close attention on Norwegian value such as honoring human rights and gender equality, that is, a woman and an artist with a belief of the humanity that does make individuals live their life the best from the mud and dirt, resembling the lotus flowers which is the subject and symbol of her paintings.

Mye av bakgrunnen her i hennes bilder får tankene til å gå til ikebana. Natur, fokus på linjer, reskape, harmonier, inspirasjon fra natur og rispapir. Form basert på gammel historie framstår her i ny form vaser/conteinere er også med i bildene. Og som i ikebana arrangementene er det ikke bare det man åpenbart ser med en gang, men her er mye historie og symbolikk innbakt i bildene. Så er det lotusblomsten da, som er subjekt og symbolet i hennes bilder. Lotus blomsten er jo Buddhas blomst, kommer opp gjennom skitt og mudder, men fremstår likevel som ren og hvit på overflaten. Det er også noe som er sterkt tilstede i ikebana kunsten og i filosofien. Interressant og vakker utstilling. Takk til Yachi som deler dette med oss!