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Japanese
= screen
byobu = protection from the wind
Japanese
screens are monumental
in scale and unique in the world of art for bold designs and
compositions - often centuries ahead of western in the context of
comparative art history especially in the development
in decoration and design -
Korins' Iris screens being a superb example.
Often
used to bring light and space into dark interiors, they still work
well and are inclined to make small spaces look much bigger - so be
bold and don't think your house isn't big enough!
Japanese
screens are always available at Kazari collector and when not featured
on the walls, can be viewed in the purpose built racks in the
front corner of the gallery near the front window.
We
currently have an interesting range of Japanese screen paintings
and scrolls. Whether they are rich in gold leaf and natural mineral
pigment colours like the Yamato-e style of Japanese subject
painting, or more subtle monochromes of Chinese Literati or
Nanga styles.
History
Screens
have been produced continuously in Japan since the C8th - C9th
through to the present day, and constructed in much the same
way since, at least, the C10th. Although the concept may well have
come from China - directly in this form or as a simpler version -
the Japanese have made it their very own as it developed
independently in Japan through several hundred years of isolation
with no contact with China.
The
screen format, in effect is a flexible and functional 'spare
wall' which provided a utilitarian and easily stored 'blank
canvas' for artists through the centuries. Usually commissioned,
artists working in schools such as the Kano School, Tosa, Rimpa,
Soga, Unkoku, Hasegawa and Shijo schools - to name the most
well known - produced work under direction in a similar way to the
artists of the Italian Renaissance.
The Kano
school is most famous, starting in C15th and grew to become
something like a franchise chain with many branches by the end of
the C19th; marriages of convenience often supported some semblance
of family lineage.
Few
screens survived because of the nature of the geography of Japan -
with volcanoes, earthquakes, fires and wars, their inherent
nature as 'fragile things', rendered them vulnerable. The high cost
of re-mounting meant that many were not conserved but rather
disposed of when damaged.
Some
excellent examples are in the collections of The NSW
Art Gallery, the SA Art Gallery and the National Gallery of
Victoria and in the Queensland Art Gallery
Design
Japanese
screens are monumental in scale and unique in the world of art
for bold designs and compositions - often
centuries ahead of the west in the development
in decoration and design -
Korins' Iris screens being a superb example, while retaining
simple devices for achieving perspective well into the late C19th
Often
used to bring light and space into dark interiors, they still work
well and are inclined to make small spaces look much bigger - so be
bold and don't think your house isn't big enough!
Japanese
screens are always available at Kazari Collector and when not featured
on the walls, can be viewed in the purpose built racks in the
front corner of the gallery near the front window.
We
currently have an interesting range of Japanese screen paintings
and scrolls. Whether they are rich in gold leaf and natural mineral
pigment colours like the Yamato-e style of Japanese subject
painting, or more subtle monochromes of Chinese Literati or
Nanga styles - they are monumental in scale and unique
in the world of art for their bold designs and compositions - often
centuries ahead of western development in decoration and design
in many respects.
Make an
appointment:
We are always
willing to show our full selection of screens but an appointment
ahead of time is appreciated as it does require more than one
person to show them, as understandably they are not all on display
at any one time.
Japanese
artists were more concerned with capturing the immediacy of the
subject and concerned with design, spacial concepts and cropped
compositions in an attempt to be true to the 'eyes'
view'.
This was
considered above perspective as a priority, until the Late C19th -
meanwhile in the west, artists were dealing with realism and
perspective.
Investment
potential:
Screens
surviving are therefore of great cultural value and currently, both
early works and latter period screens represent good buying on
a world scale for art
investors - they have been sought after and collected in the US,
first popularised by American, Ernest Fenollosa and later by the
Freer Collection now at the Smithsonian in Washington, as well as
many other public and private collections.
Some
excellent examples are in the collections of The NSW
Art Gallery, the SA Art Gallery and the National Gallery of
Victoria and in the Queensland Art Gallery
Currently
screens represent good buying on a world art market scale, while
Chinese art has hit new highs along with contemporary art, prices
for Japanese screens have remained steady and prices could quickly
accelerate as the market adjusts.
Conservation:
We
employ a Japanese art conservator who, following
in a family tradition, completed
a 6 year aprenticeship
as
a hyogushi (lit: paper-mounter ) - and
works in all areas related to the restoration and conservation
of paper, ink and paint as well as screen
and scroll mounting, silk and
tapestry work.
Japanese 2
panel screens
Japanese 6 panel screens
Japanese
paintings
Japanese
scrolls
Japanese fan
paintings
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