marihiraga
FLOWER VISAGE
Exhibition | 2D | Lighting
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FLOWER VISAGE The Harmony of Art and Noh Theater* |
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Summary of the Exhibition Exhibition "FLOWER VISAGE" by Mari Hiraga fuses contemporary art with Noh which is a form of Japanese traditional performing arts. This exhibition consists of two parts. One is an installation titled Flower Visage which represents a memory of the last remaining flower seen. It is made of clear FRP and metal. The others are different sizes in various materials, mainly metal. The work, Flower Visage, is linked with the world view of Tomoe*, a Noh piece, and presented as Hiraga's original new story. Along with impermanence, it reflects the world of reason brought by existence in the form of drops. The sculptor questions precious memories, responsibilities of being and the value of each individual, and proposes life with arts which changes and coexists with people. Greatly impressed by her first Noh viewing experience in 2006, Hiraga discovered in it the ultimate aesthetic and elegance of Japan. With regular visits to the theater the creator continues to be mesmerized by its world. This has led the artist to create pieces of sculpture with a Noh theme. The first was "Be a stone" which was presented in the first solo sculpture exhibition in 2016. The second is "Flower Visage" which will be exhibited in this show. The event will hold with Hiraga's original musical composition performed on Nohkan*. |
| *Noh Theater: | A Japanese traditional performance art which is a combination of theater and dancing, it incorporates various props, including masks (Omote) – worn by the main actor (Shite). |
| *Tomoe: | A Noh theater about Tomoe-Gozen, a female samurai who served Minamoto no Yoshinaka (1154–1184). One of the traditional Japanese comma-shaped patterns, also a generic term for crests in which these patterns were used. Due to its relation to water, it came to be used as an emblem (Kamon) on the eaves of buildings in the late Heian period (10th–11th century) to ward off fires. Later used widely in Shinto shrines. |
| *Nohkan: | A Transverse flute used for accompaniment of Noh theater and other performing arts. It has an unusual internal bore restriction of about 2–3 mm called a nodo, gives its unique high pitched sound that is rich with high frequency harmonics. |
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Statement of the Artist Water and Mind Life means a series of choices. Determination not to regret comes from the sensible efforts of imagination. It is also the wisdom of human beings. Life means will is not always the answer. It is ever-changing, directionless, like clouds, and like rivers. Life means the conscious opportunity of discovering beauty. A memory of the last remaining flower seen stays in human minds forever as an afterimage. A memory of shadows in the water is lively minds which will not be taken away by anyone. |
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Richness of Creativity Feeling the aesthetic consciousness, inspired imagination and five senses, unique movements and stillness, beauty in each moment, ever-changing shapes, pleasant world of mysterious profundity and lingering memory floating which goes beyond time and space, a healing, spiritual elevation, wrapped in rich spirituality, not simply something new. These are the creativity the sculptor is looking for. |
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Meaning of Life COVID-19 took away normal life from all over the world. It is a chance to reconsider the impermanence of the world, life, and future. Coincidentally it is also linked with the concept of this exhibition. It is the Mari Hiraga's opportunity to think about the meaning of life now as one being on this earth. |
FLOWER VISAGE
FRP / Body : 330×330×1350(mm) / 2020
Concept
Artist Message
Message Video
