Bird by Kayama Matazō

Bird (c. 1968) by Kayama Matazō (1927 - 2004).

Ink and pencil on paper, framed

16 x 11.5 cm (image) / 28.4 x 23.8 cm (overall)

OGATA presents an exclusive exhibition NIHONGA – Beauty of Japanese Philosophy through Art, featuring a selection of works from the prestigious collection of SHIBUNKAKU, a major gallery founded in Kyoto in 1937 and whose expertise is centered on XXth century Japanese Art, from great masters of painting and calligraphy from the pre- and post-war periods to contemporary artists.

Nihonga embodies a unique philosophy deeply connected to the Shinto belief that gods reside in all things, from the vast natural world of mountains, rivers, and forests, to the smallest pebbles.

Integral to nihonga is also the inexorability of nature, its continuous changes, and their acceptance. Using durable mineral pigments made from pulverized natural ores and shells applied to paper or silk, nihonga captures the essence of nature—such as a forest in perpetual transformation—and fixes it on a single medium.