Where Water Meets Paper
A Tale of Venice and Japan
Water is essential for the Earth and all living beings, including us. It appears in many forms: oceans, rivers, ponds, and even a simple cup of water. We also encounter it as rain, snow, and mist, constantly surrounding us.
In Venice, I imagine that water has an especially intimate and vital presence, perhaps even more so than in other Italian cities. Similarly, in Japan, we are surrounded by the vast ocean and many themes in Japanese Sumi-e artworks are deeply connected to water.
For this exhibition, I chose to explore the theme of water by drawing connections between two places profoundly intertwined with it: Venice and Japan.
The title of this exhibition also carries an important meaning: it refers to the “destination” of water on paper.*
In this exhibition, I sought to express how ink and water move across and within the surface of paper, and where they come to rest. The amount of water used and the type of paper can significantly influence the final result of the artwork.
Therefore, even before beginning to paint a work that respects both spirituality and randomness, many preparations and steps are required.
Although there aren’t many pieces in this exhibition, I would be delighted if the public discover the spread of ink, the blurring effects, and the dried marks of water and ink on the artworks.
Kie Iwakiri
