Solo Exhibition at Cross Hotel Sapporo

Solo exhibition of my newest series of artworks “陰翳 IN-EI: The Resonance of Shadows” was installed on the walls of Cross Hotel Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan from February 20th to April 30th in 2016. “陰翳 (in-ei)” in Japanese is defined as “shadows”, as well as “a sense of beauty that we capture in shadows and nuances in colors, sound, and emotions”. As I was composing a short poem inspired by the concept of "In-Ei", in an attempt to define the moments I find "陰翳 (in-ei)" within colors, sounds and emotions, as well as in the shades of Japanese calligraphy, I came to realize that this artistic sensibility of 陰翳 (in-ei) is what makes traditional Japanese art and culture unique, and make your senses capture the fragments of unforgettable moments out of our monotonous everyday scenery. Based on the poem, I created a series of abstract calligraphy artworks in three categories: I. Colors, II. Soundscape, III. Emotions. I find this In-ei in calligraphy — I feel drawn to the world of black and white, light and shadow — visually minimal, but its world depicted is infinite.

As we see in Japanese words like “侘び寂び Wabi-sabi” or “もののあはれ Monono-aware,” the concept of “陰翳 In-ei” cherishes the beauty of simplicity and evanescence in our ordinary lives. In the darkness, we see the presence of light. The light makes our lives possible: we see shapes in the world because of shadows. In the dull shadows, we find silence — where our senses calm, time has slowed, you will find your inner ’self’ in that very moment in a space, which is only limited by your mind. This sensibility is the foundation of Japanese traditional aesthetics, which makes what we see, hear and feel in everyday lives more meaningful and flavorful. ---- Curated and organized by Clark Gallery + SHIFT. Hosted by Cross Hotel Sapporo. Photos by Akko Terasawa.