Maki Misago   Visual artist

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Recently Japanese traditional ink painting “Suibokuga” is dying.

Compared to 200 years before, condition of “Suibokuga” painting is approaching its lowest level. Nowadays, there is only few people that could become professional artists or teachers of “Suibokuga” and there is only few places where people can properly learn this traditional art. Actually, for almost 10 years I couldn’t find the teacher worth the tuition and what makes it even more bizarre - that was in Tokyo, Japan’s capital.

Therefore, I feel sense of imminent crisis in the Japanese “Suibokuga” culture and realize that this art form needs to be reconstructed on a large scale in order to be preserved as the living tradition. This is where I find my mission and my purpose.

 

 The beginning of this crisis is situated after “Meiji Restoration” when Western culture came into Japan. Then “Suibokuga” started to weaken. In the result of that, recently there is no effective education program teaching young people basics of traditional ink painting. And going further, even top level art universities don’t have specialized program for “Suibokuga”. This is the fundamental reason of the crisis.

To be straightforward - the purpose of my whole life activity is to establish the traditional ink painting curriculum at the best art universities. That will start the restoration process of “Suibokuga”. Then students can grow up to genuine professional artists and I hope they will take this unique art form even further.

 

I’m not sure if I can realize this arduous mission through my entire life, but my purpose is not only making the education system to raise up professional artists. Moreover, it is to make “Suibokuga” a universal “living culture” and let everyone study or just enjoy this precious traditional art. Whether it be at universities, small art studios or at elementary schools country-wide, just as universal as Japanese Calligraphy.

 

However, the earnest execution of these projects is impossible without Chinese painters’ cooperation. In order to bring proper education back to Japan, certain training process is necessary. Hence I went to China to acquire it. After going back to Japan I want to merge Japanese sense with the Chinese practical skill and knowledge. Then I would like carry out the “rebirth of traditional Japanese Suibokuga”.

 

Since in the future my activity might receive national level recognition and involves preserving traditional culture, I’m looking for help from organizations or people which understand above-mentioned crisis and could support this challenge with financial assistance, ordering or purchasing my work.

 

To end with, for everyone who concerns and values art, for those who wish to cooperate and share this challenge with me and to all who sympathize – You are mostly welcomed!

2014. Maki

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