Kigel Studio
Philosophy of Sumi-e
Asian brush painting, which includes both Chinese and sumi-e, or Japanese
brush painting, is rooted in a tradition over two thousand years old. In
Japan this art was first practiced by the Zen priests to improve their
spirituality and meditation through artistic concentration, inspiration, and
perfection. Even now, sumi-e is more than just an art form. It is a
spiritual discipline requiring co-ordination of the physical and the spiritual.
To paint in sumi-e is to experience the difference between semblance and truth.
Semblance can be obtained by shape alone, but when truth is reached, both
spirit and substance are fully expressed. In sumi-e it is more
important to capture the inner nature of the subject than to reproduce its exact
outward appearance and form.
The philosophy of sumi-e is contrast and harmony, expressing simple beauty and elegance. The yin/yang symbol with a light dot in the dark section, and a dark dot in the light section, represents the perfectly balanced interchange of the two dynamically opposed forces of the Universe; the dots represent integration.
Sumi-e represents these principles of nature's vitality and restraint. The balance and integration of these forces and the eternal interaction of Yin and Yang are the ultimate goal of sumi-e.
The art of Oriental brush painting aims to depict the spirit, not the semblance of the object. In creating a picture the artist must grasp the chi, or life spirit of the subject. Patience, self-discipline, and concentration are essential in the artist's quest for balance, rhythm and harmony.