A Look from Behind: The Yakushi-Ji Treasures In Ueno
By Avi Landau
Putting oneself through physical and/or mental hardship as a way of achieving spiritual growth has long been connected with Buddhism in Japan. That was why, when I arrived at the National Museum in Ueno on a sweltering spring morning, I did not find it inappropriate to have to wait outside in the sun for 90 minutes to get into the current exhibition -- The Treasures of Yakushi-Ji Temple. Of course, upon first catching site of the impossibly long line, a winding python made up of thousands of senior citizens, I thought about heading for less crowded quarters. But I had had my heart strongly set on seeing this exhibition before it closed on June 8th, and anyway, I had certainly been made to wait even longer, at this very museum , many times before. It had almost always been worth it.
I imagined that most of the Buddhist art enthusiasts patiently waiting in line with me had already been to Nara and visited Yakushiji. I also came to the realization that if I had gotten on the shinkansen it would not take very much longer to reach the temple itself than it would to finally reach the entrance of the museum (though it would have been a BIT more expensive).
What the large crowds had been gathering for, every day for weeks already, was a look from behind. A look at the back-sides of 3 great Buddhist images whose backs are usually covered by ornate, body length, gilded halos or aureoles (光背, kohai). For this exhibition, these figures, most famously the bronze Bodhisatvas Nikko and Gakko, were separated from their back-stand halos allowing their elegantly molded posteriors to be gazed upon by anyone with a ticket and tough enough to endure the lines.
In addition to this rare chance to peek BEHIND the scenes, the exhibition featured treasures which have never been displayed all at once.These are usually kept in Yakushi-Ji`s treasure house and are
exhibited as individual pieces or sets at various times around the year.
Centuries of being imbued with the samurai virtues of patience and perseverence has clearly had a huge impact.Not a complaint could be heard from the sun-exposed crowd.Each visitor seemed to be in a heat induced daze by the time they reached the air-conditioned exhibition hall .
Then things really got difficult. All the pent up energy and bridled excitement seemed to burst forth in my elderly fellow museum-goers and it took strength and cunning to jockey myself into a position in which I could see any of the works on display.
This might sound like a nightmare, or a Buddhist version of hell, but in fact it was fascinating and highly rewarding in many ways. For me observing the visitors and overhearing their comments was what probably sticks in my mind most. Since this was an exhibition of Buddhist works, and not just ART, it seemed to me that most of the visitors were trying their best to have a spiritual experience. Their GAZE was special, like that reserved for cherry blossom viewing or funerals. A typical exclamation that I heard among the crowds viewing the 3 meter tall bronze Boddhisatvas was: They really DO make me feel calm. (yappari miru to iyashi ni naru).
In terms of the works on display themselves, I was more impressed (in terms of beauty) by the three small figures (39cm) of the Hachiman Triad. I prefered them because they are carved from wood, and I have always felt that the Japanese sculptors often showed great genius when working in that medium. When such skillfully carved wooden pieces are aged more than a thousand years, the effect is mysterious and mesmerizing.
It is also of interest to note how Shinto Gods were early adopted into Buddhism, with Hachiman (the deified emperor Ojin) having early on become a protector of the new, imported faith.These figures are some of the earliest,if not THE earliest examples of Shinto sculpture(before Buddhism took hold the Gods had not been
represented as graven images). I can go ON and ON about each piece I saw. By why should you waste your time reading when you still have a few more days to see and experience for yourself.Or check the exhibition web-site.
I left the museum and its bookstore with heavy feet and even heavier bag, and a light head and even lighter wallet.However, I really did feel serene(exhaustion?) sitting on TX reviewing what I had just seen in the excellent catalogue of the show.
Don't let the lines deter you(bring some good books along). I guess that in the west we also have the notion of growth through hardship: you know NO PAIN, NO GAIN.
The exhibition will be on until June 8 at the National Museum in Ueno.
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A Magical Night on Mt Tsukuba at the Omido Temple`s Mando-Sai (大御堂万灯祭)
The Omido Temple, just below the Mt Tsukuba Shrine ( where the temple`s Main Hall once stood)
By Avi Landau
Most visitors to Mt. Tsukuba make a stop at the large Shinto Shrine called the Tsukuba-San Jinja, where the spirits of Japan`s mythological First Couple- Izamagi and Izanami are enshrined. There, prayers can be made for finding a good match ( EN MUSUBI) or for marital harmony ( FUFU WAGO). The shrine in way, has become the most famous SIGHT on the mountain, a MUST SEE for all tourists to the area.
Few now know, however, that from the 8th century until the late 19th century, the area on which the great shrine now stands was the site of a large BUDDHIST TEMPLE COMPLEX ( which also contained several shrines) called either Tsukuba-San Dera, Chisokuin-Chuzen-ji (知足院中禅寺), or just plain Chuzen-Ji (中禅寺）.
According to local lore , the temple was first founded in 782 AD by the Priest Tokuitsu (徳一), of the Hosso Sect ( one of the Six Sects Of the old capital of Nara), said to be a surviving son of Fujiwara no Nakamaro ( who along with most of his family was put to death for attempting a coup d`etat in the year 764). Tokuitsu had been living at temples ( including Todai-Ji) since childhhood and went on to found numerous temples throught eastern Japan.
The Omido Temple on Mt Tsukuba illumited by the light of prayer lanterns on the night of the Mando Ceremony ( Aug 18th 2011)
When you think about it, it was only natural that Mt Tsukuba be selected as a site to open a Buddhist temple. Since ancient times the mountain itself ( in its entirety) had been considered sacred, most probably because of its TWIN PEAKS, which for the ancients represented the male and female forces. The mountain had long been the site for KAGAI ( also called UTAGAKI), a kind of MATING festival which was held twice a year ( at a site not very far from where the Mt Tsukuba Shrine now stands and at other sacred moutains around Japan as well). Numerous poems describing the experience of this ancient rite can be found in the Manyoshu ( the oldest collection of Japanese poems).
When Tokuitsu arrived at Mt Tsukuba, as a representative of (at that time) the religion which had been adopted by the Emperor and the court, he was able to link the concept of the MALE and FEMALE forces of the mountain with the officially sanctioned histories of the Imperial Family and the Yamato People, by introducing the story of Izanagi and Izanami ( who are enshrined at the mountain today). Buddhist referred to these deities as Nantai no Gongen and Nyotai no Gongen, respectively.
Though Tokuitsu was a fierce and vocal opponent of the newer (to Japan) types of Buddhism which were becoming popular in Japan during the Heian Period ( the Tendai and Shingon Sects), not long after he founded his temple, the great priest Kukai ( Kobo Daishi) is said to have visited and converted it to the Shingon Sect. The multi-talented monk is said to have carved the temples main image, a SENJU KANON ( 千手観音- Thousand Armed Kanon), at that time ( though this should be taken with a grain of salt, since their is no proof that Kukai ever travelled further east that the Izu Peninsula !).
A close-up of the Senju Kannon, the Central Image at the Omido Temple (大御堂) on Mt Tsukuba
Any, the temple DID become connected with the Shingon Sect.
In the following centuries, the Chuzen-Ji Temple and Mt Tsukuba itself became a well know training ground for Shugendo(修験道), which combined elements of Buddhism and native beliefs and involved severe asceticisms which were supposed to bring magical powers to practioners. Women were stricly prohibited from ascending the mountain. The killing of any living creatures and the drinking of alcohol were also forbidden.
Political control of the mountain ( and temple grounds) over that period was at first in the hands of the Hata Family, most notably Hata Tomoie ( 八田知家), whose descendants long ruled the area under the name of Oda.
It was with the ascension of the Tokugawa Family and the subsequent Edo Period ( the Tokugawa Period 1600-1868) that the Chuzen-Ji Temple came to have its Golden Age.
Chuzun-Ji Temple on Mt Tsukuba in its glory days. The three tiered pagoda and Main Hall ( to its right) were destroyed along with most of the other structures depicted here in thr early Meiji Period
The reason for the temple`s sudden rise in importance was its location- to the north-east of Edo Castle, the seat of Tokugawa power. It has long been a belief in Japan, that evil or misfortune come from that direction, and it is considered important to protect oneself. That is why in the same way that the great Enryaku-Ji Temple on Mt Hiei near Kyoto was built to protect the Imperial Palace, the Chuzen-Ji Temple on Mt Tsukuba was built up to protect the Shogun.
A new abbbot was installed by the Shogun and the temple was given a generous annual allotment. The 3rd Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu, was especially interested in Chuzen-Ji`s upkeep, and beginning in 1626, seven years were spent renewing the various temple structures ( which included some shrines, as well).
When the Shogunate was on its last legs in the 1860`s, it was at Chuzenji`s Omido Hall that Fujita Koshiro (藤田小四郎) and his band of Tengu-To (天狗党) warriors from Mito set up a base camp from which to fight their battle to Revere the Emperor and Expel the Barbarians ( Sonno Joi,尊王攘夷). Fujita and his ill-fated men soon headed off to try to meet the Emperor in Kyoto but were captured and tortured to death by samurai of the Kaga Clan.
The eventual fall of the Shogunate, however, sealed the great temple`s fate. The new Meiji government issued and order to separate Buddhism from Shinto (神仏分離, Shinbutsu Bunri) and also enacted a policy to suppress Buddhism in general ( 廃仏毀釈, Haibutsu kishaku) as being an ideology of alien origin.
Most of the structures which belonged to the temple were destroyed ( only one gate and the unique sacred bridge- shinkyo、 神橋 survived) in the iconoclastic fervor ( dont forget that this was a temple especially favored by the fallen regime). Numerous statues and other paraphanalia were thrown into Bonfires.
Buddhist treasures being tossed into bonfires on Mt Tsukuba in the early Meiji Period (1873?)
Importantly, however, local believers were able to hide away a few important images, including the Senju Kannon Statue. This was kept buried underground for decades until it was deemed safe to bring back out again ( and it can be seen today in the Omido Temple`s Main Hall.
Other surviving images can be seen at various temples around Tsukuba. The most impressive of these probably being the Nio Guardians which can be seen at the Tofuku-Ji Temple in Konda, Tsukuba.
On the site of the old Omido, the main hall of the Chuzen-Ji Temple, the Tsukuba-San Shrine was built, and in 1873 it was designated as the prefecture`s premier shrine ( it is now the Kashima Grand Shrine which holds the honor of that title).
In 1930, a small temple was built just below ( and to the left of) the Mt Tsukuba Shrine. A much more considerable structure was erected in the 1960`s- what is now today`s Omido (大御堂) Temple, a shadow of its old self, but still dignified and certainly worth a visit ( though few tourists to the mountain do- compared to the throngs that visit the shrine, though the temple is number 25 on the Bando 33 Kannon Temple pilgrimage circuit).
Last night, August 18th 2011, I was lucky enough to be at the Omido for what turned out to be a truly magical evening. It was the night of the Mando-Sai ( Lantern Oferring Ceremony) and when I got there at about 5:30 pm, worshippers were writing there wishes on the paper linings of lanterns which they then placed along the temples pathways are in its pond.
Worshippers writing prayers on the paper lining of lanterns ( Aug 18th 2011)
The wishes that I saw being inscribed were mostly for household or traffic safety, for health and for business success.
Lanterns lining the temple`s pathways
The worshipers then proceeded to take a seat (outdoors), to wait for the onset of prayers for the consolation of the spirits of thos who died in the recent earthquake and tsunami.
A nun and young priest setting up for the IREISAI in front of a small hall with an image of the great Priest Kukai ( Kobo Daishi) in it
Getting ready for the IREISAI, a prayer to console the spirits of the those who died in the disaster of March 11th
Offering incense to the spirits of those lost in the earthquake and tsunami of March 11th
This ceremony (ireisai, 慰霊祭) was conducted by two young priests and an older nun. Their sonorous chanting harmonized hypnotically with the hum of the cicadas roosting among temples impressively old ( and huge) trees.
One of the grand old trees within the temple`s precincts
After about 30 minutes we all stepped into the temple, and took a seat ( Japanese style) in front of the temples main image- the Thousand Handed Kannon.
The ceremony which then began was special indeed, for believers it was said to be as effective in gaining merit as it would be visiting the temple on 46,000 normal days. I guess that is whty the place was packed.
Inside the Omido`s Main Hall for special prayers to the Senju Kannon ( equivalent in merit to 46,000 such prayers on regular days!)
The proceedings were led by the nun, who as joined by the young priests in what was surprisingly melodious chanting.
The nun leading the prayers ( Aug. 18th 2011)
After this ceremony ( and all the merit gained!) we stepped outside into the beautiful night again. Though in my case I should say that I HOBBLED out, since my legs were completely numbed by the long sit Japanese style.
Lanterns set afloat on the temples pond ( Aug. 18th 2011)
Painfully making my way down the staircase to the temples plaza like space below, I saw Juha (樹波）, Tsukuba`s great Wadaiko ( Japanese drums) ensemble, setting up.
I knew that we would be in for some thrills.
And despite the fact that there were fewer listeners than drummers, Juha did not disappoint, dazzling me with rhythms that summoned up all my primieval emotions and carried me away........
The lantern light and lightning flashing off in the distance made the whole experience even more mystical.
After kindly going their set ( we were less than ten people!), they even went on to lead us in some wild Bon Dancing. while three of Juha`s members went on to perform an absolutely crazed percussion improv.
Dancing Bon Odori to the accompaniment of three members of the great Juha Japanese drumming ensemble
I guess they understood that the few of us who were there, really appreciated their talents.
An awesome improvised Bon Dance accompaniment played by 3 members of Juha (樹波)
With plenty of thank yous, lots of merit, and a head spinning from the rhythms and beer, we took our leave, knowing that we would HAVE TO come back next year!
Juha , a great local japanese drumming ensemble, putting on an amazing show
And dont forget. When you do visit Mt Tsukuba and its famous shrine, dont forget to make a little detour to the Omido Temple, and think about the mountains very COMPLEX religious history.
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A Most Tsukuba-like Racing Event- on November 18th and 19th- The Tsukuba Challenge 2010
Thrills, chills, and plenty of spills- one of the entrants in the Tsukuba Challenge 2010 being cheered on by enthusiastic supporters
They`ve been getting ready for the big race for weeks, months, maybe even years. Training, training, and then more training- working to improve speed stamina and coordination: knowing that every SECOND will count in the pursuit of victory.
And it all comes down to Thurday and Friday of this week, at an event for which they will be converging on Tsukuba from all over Japan. For victory. For the prize. For the glory!
No. I am not talking about the famous and very popular Tsukuba Marathon, which will be held later this month ( on the 28th), and in which thousands will run. I`m referring to the 4th annual Tsukuba Challenge, also known as the Real World Robot Challenge- in which about 70 robots- on-wheels of various design will try to negotiate a course around Tsukuba`s Central Park. This year the course will run a gruelling 1.1 kilometers, from Tsukuba`s Expo Center, around the pond at Tsukuba`s Central Park, then over the pedestrian bridge to Nova Hall! There will be various designated stopping points along the way.
If you think this sounds difficult, IT IS. In fact, last year only 5 out of 72 teams could complete the course, which was much shorter than what they will have to navigate this year.
A practice run over the pedestrian bridge between Tsukuba Center and the Expo Center
If you`ve been around Tsukuba Center over the past few months, more specifically on the pedestrian road between Nova Hall and the Expo Center, you have almost surely seen the curious sight of some of the teams practicing the course with their robots. It is a strange sight indeed to see groups of two or three green-capped, name-tag wearing OTAKU (computer nerd) types clustered around the odd looking, diminutive, wheeled vehicles ( often made using wheel chairs, of all things!), making their way along the path at what could only be called a SNAILS PACE.
The Tsukuba University team ironing out some technical problems during a practice run
Starting tomorrow( Thursday November 18) at 10 AM at the Tsukuba Expo center will be a trial run which will be held over a 240 meter coure. Those who successfully complete it, will be able to take part in the FINALS on the following day, also starting at 10AM.
Passing by the Tsukuba Library on a practice run
Since Tsukuba is Japan`s SCIENCE CITY, and is now perhaps the capital of cutting edge robot technology, this event seems to me just perfect. Much more appropriate for the city than the Tsukuba Matsuri ( in which the main theme is a group of floats which are taken from a very famous festival in Aomori prefecture-after they have finished using them there), or even the Tsukuba Marathon, since there are many marathons held all over Japan ( a dime a dozen!).
So come on out tomorrow and the next day for a unique, TRULY TSUKUBAN event. Join the nerds cheering the robots on! At the rate they go it will take quite a long time. They will need plenty of encouragement to make it to the finish line!
In fact, however, the finishing time will be 4PM tomorrow and 1:30PM, the next day.
See you there!
One of the many robots entered in the race which make use of a wheel-chair
The starting point- at the Expo Center
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A Perfect Day for OPENING THE HARBOUR ( ハーバー開き) at Tsuchiura`s Marina
Clear skies and plenty of boats ready to be taken out (Jan. 9th, 2011)
Traditionally, the Japanese have always made a fresh start in EVERYTHING after New Year`s. In fact, this went so far, that on the the first day of the first month of the year everyone was considered to have aged together by one year ( even a baby which had been born a week earlier!).
And though now there are INDIVIDUAL BIRTHDAYS ( though interestingly 20 year-olds still celebrate their coming-of age together in January). as well as additional new beginnings such as the SCHOOL YEAR and FISCAL YEAR ( which start in April in Japan), all sorts of NEW BEGINNINGS are still commonly recognized and celebrated.
The is the first sunrise of the year ( HATSU HINODE, 初日の出), on the morning of January first, the first CALLIGRAPHY of the year (KAKI ZOME, 書初め) on January second, and the first tea ceremony of the year- HATSU GAMA.
There are special expressions for FIRSTS OF THE YEAR of almost every kind. There is even a special term for omes the first sexual act of the year- HIME-HAJIME!
For the occassion rice was pounded into MOCHI- rice cakes!
One FIRST-OF-THE-YEAR EVENT which has become a tourist attraction throughout Japan is the DEZOME SHIKI (出初式)- the first coming- out- of- the- year of Japan`s firemen- which can often be as spectacular as a circus, with traditional acrobatics performed atop bamboo poles, exhibitions of firefighting techniques ( including fire-hose spray shows), and displays of new fire-trucks and equipment. Just about every city in Japan has a DEZOME, and as you can imagine they are especially attractive to families with small kids.
Well this year, I wanted to go check out the fire-fighters festival in Tsuchiura, which I heard usually culminated in a spectacular fire-hose show down by the Yacht Harbour on Lake Kasumigaura ( just in front of Tsuchiura Stations East Entrance). I had looked at a web-site that I usually use to get information about traditional events in and around Tsukuba, and found that the DEZOME in Tsuchiura would be held on the morning of January ninth.
We hurried down to Tsuchiura with great anticipation.
When we got to where I thought the event would be held, however, instead of shiny fire engines and excited crowds we found only a few people lazilly fishing off the pier.
Naturally we were disappointed, and I kicked myself in the pants for not having CONFIRMED the time and place by phone with Tsuchiura`s City office. It turns out we had arrived a day too late.
But sometimes stupid mistakes can end in great discoveries.
So while we had missed out on one FIRST-OF-THE-YEAR CEREMONY, we accidentally found ourselves at another one!
Each table at the marina was layed out with a fine spread
Driving a few hundred meters further down the waterside, we came to a fenced off area within which all sorts of small and medium watercraft were PARKED on land. At the gate there was a sign which read something like: LACUS MARINA ハーバー開き 寒風大会 誰でも楽しもう- meaning The Lacus Marina`s Harbour Opening- the Cold Wind Festival- Anyone Can Come and Enjoy!
Since fate seemed to have brought us to this place and also because the weather happened to be just perfect, we decided to take up the invitation offered on the sign and headed on into the marina.
For a thousand yen per person ( 500 for children) we were offered freshly pounded rice cakes ( omochi), and lots of other food and drink which was laid out on tables outside, free rides on all sorts of water craft ( motorboats, canoes, kayaks, and sailboats), and most importantly for me a taste of what it was like in the old days when WATER TRANSPORT had been such a vital part of like in this and other parts of Japan.
In this country,before the rise to dominance of railroads, and then later roads for automobiles, most goods were transported ( whenever possible) via waterways! In the Edo Period ( 1600-1868) , goods produced in the Tsuchiura area, most prominantly soy sauce, firewood, rice, and straw sacks, would be taken to Edo by wind driven boats called TAKASE BUNE (高瀬船). On the return trip these same ships would bring back salt, sake, textiles, etc. This trip would take take anywhere from 3 days to a couple of weeks ( depending on wind and other conditions), and took the craft from Lake Kasumigaura to the Tone River, and then to the Edo River, before reaching its final destination. A different route would take the boats to the important seaport of Choshi (銚子), now in Chiba Perefecture, from where fresh salt-water fish and salt were brought to Tsuchiura.
(It might be surprising to you, but even goods from Mito ( even today about an hour by highway from Tsuchiura) were transported to Edo by water craft. They would travel down a series of canals (built during the Edo Period) until they can to Lake Kasumigaura. They would then take the usual rout to Edo until they could drop their goods off at the Mito Clans store-houses which were in Asakusa.)
Besides the ships used for transport there were all the various types of fishing craft ( from the days before the lake was closed off from the sea and fish and shellfish still abounded) , and the house boats in which people lived on all year round.
Also, after the fall of the Shogunate and the liberalization of travel, and before the completion of the Joban Railway Line, usual Tsuchiurans would travel to and from Tokyo by ship. Naturally, travel between the villages located around the lake was also done almost exclusively by boat. Almost all the boats on the lake remained those either powered by wind or oars until the Taisho Period (1912-1926) even though a few steam-powered ships were introduced as far back as 1891. The Choshi Maru steam liner could shuttle passengers between Choshi and Tsuchiura in 8 hours.
This vanished world, so centered around the lake and so full of boats, is evoked tenderly in Dr Junichi Saga`s book Memories and Silk and Straw ( a book which I strongly recommend to anyone living in the Tsukuba area), and images from the stories told in his book floated across my mind`s eye that morning as I sailed off out into the lake and watched the modern city of Tsuchiura fade away in the distance.
From the boat I could see the newly renovated YOKAREN (予科練) Museum, which is a moving memorial to the young ( some, VERY young) men, who went off to die in SPECIAL ATTACK MISSIONS as so-called KAMIKAZE pilots. The reason that this museum is located on the shores of Lake Kasumigaura is that it was on this lake that the many of the young pilots trained ( as did those who participated in the attack on Pearl harbour) because there was once a huge Navy Base in Ami Town, as well as a big naval presence in Tsuchiura. Though there still is ( a greatly reduced) SDF base near the lake in Ami, this strong military presence has also become a thing of the past.( See my Tsukublog article on the YOKAREN MUSEUM here:
All the watercraft teeming with people and goods, the lake itself teemiing with fish and shellfish, the streets packed shoppers and sailors, the hustle and bustle. All that lives on only in Saga Sensei`s books. Drifting peacefully on the lakes still waters with only a handful of other boats in sight, all recreational, really drove home the sense of MUJOー （ 無常）, the fleeting nature of all things.
The city of Tsuchiura, as seen from far out on the lake. Mt. Tsukuba looms in the background
The marina staff was extremely kind and they patiently helped out anyone who wanted to try out the canoes, kayaks or sailboats.
They will hold similar events 3 more times this year:
On Children`s Day- may 5th
Sea Day ( Umi no Hi)- July 17th
and Sports Day ( Tai iku no Hi)- Oct. 9th
If you would like to get a feel of what its like to get on the lake- these days will provide the perfect chance.
The marina itself is also interesting in itself, as it is used by various groups to store their boats- the Kasumigaura High School Yachting Club, for example, which has developed many of Japan`s Olympic sailors, trains there.
One very strange thing for me at the marina, was the rarity having a pleasant Lake Kasumigaura experience. It was nice to see so much bird-life freely enjoying the lake- since I have spent many hours freeing these same species from the nets which make the shores of Kasumigaura, at the villages of Okijuku and Tamura a veritable execution grounds for birds.
Oh- lets not forget about the DEZOME ( fire-fighter`s events)! Apparently there will be one held in Yatabe, Tsukuba, on January 15th.
Here are some photos of past DEZOME in Tsukuba:
http://www.city.tsuchiura.lg.jp/index.php?code=2546
The Lacus Marina`s Website is here:
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A Showing Of Provocative New Works by Thomas Mayers
![thomas1[1]](http://blog.alientimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/thomas11-201x300.jpg)
By Avi Landau
A little time spent by the shores of Lake Kasumigaura this past summer, affected British born artist-musician Thomas Mayers in a BIG way. In fact, the experience of that day (August 5th to be exact), and the feelings and thoughts it evoked, led to a veritable creative explosion, the fruits of which- 44 new paintings, will be on display at the Takashi Saitoh Gallery near Ushiku Sation from September 29th through October 11th.
For a previous show at the same venue Mayers also made extensive and effective use of lake related motifs ( at that time with a focus on Lake Ushiku), to create some of his most memorable and beautiful works . Visitors to his upcoming exhibit ( it starts tomorrow!), will find that his newest works show a new edge- they are more intimate and emotional. And while the paintings are still beautiful, they are also challenging and deeply thought provoking.
Plane Over The Lotus Fields - Thomas Mayers 2009
What exactly DID the artist encounter by Japan`s second largest lake on that steamy summer morning? What was it that stirred him to grapple with paper, oils, watercolor , spray paint, pencil and epoxy. What was it that kept him sleepless, reworking photos and etching on glass? Well, according to Mayers, it was driving around and walking through the extensive lotus root fields just by the lake that filled him with all the conflicting emotions which then HAD TO BE WORKED OUT through his art.
The scene he found in Tsuchiura`s Okijuku and Tamura neighborhoods, potentially one of idyllic beauty- lake, traditional hamlets, lotus flowers in bloom everywhere, was marred by the ubiquitous presence of scraggly nets, which virtually covered the landscape and stretched out to the horizon. And even more jarringly, upon closer observation, he found dangling in these nets, like strange fruit, scores of dead birds of various breed, size and color.
As an artist and a person, Thomas Mayers is extremely sensitive and ever questioning . Each time I meet him he seems to be in a continuous dialogue not only with me, but with the world around him. Carefully examining his latest works, it is clear to me that in the first place his trip down to Kasumigaura, an area whose history he is deeply familiar with from the writings of well-known Tsuchiura-based writer Junichi Saga ( Memories of Silk and Straw), brought to his mind certain iconic images of pre-war Tsuchiura- propellor powered sea planes and zeppelins, as well as an array of colorful local characters he had read about.
The harrowing site of the ugly nets and the unfortunate birds caught in them then obviously aroused another stream of images in the artist`s mind, especially those associated with the writings of novelist Shusaku Endo and Christian martyrs.
What we have then in this new show are 11 larger and 33 smaller works in which the artist has singularly compressed layers of local and PERSONAL history onto Japanese washi paper. Working from photos he had taken on THAT DAY he tried to capture the resonances each image created in his mind. And , instead of turning away from and pretending NOT TO SEE the ugliness and horror, as so many artists and photographers do, Mayers bravely works them into his pieces, focusing not only what he saw, but on what he heard, tasted ( in the air), and even what he smelled.Bravo!
All in all he has put together a daring, challenging and powerful exhibition.
http://www.saitoh-coffee.com/tsg/gallery.html
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