| In one of the most
difficult artistic challenges of his career, using only black ink and water applied with
fine brushes, Hisashi Otsuka has revived the art of the small landscape screen. Called
sumi-e, literally meaning ink of earth painting, the screens form powerful backgrounds,
rich in complex symbolism. |
The highly intricate
detail of these traditional sumi-e backgrounds are used by Otsuka to accentuate the
vibrant colors of the Samurai warrior in the forground. This
Yin-Yang application of color vs. black and white reflects vividly the delicate and
powerful balance of the complementary opposites found throughout nature and spirituality. |
