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The Splendor of the Medium is the title for the upcoming Makoto Fujimura exhibit at Kristen Frederickson Contemporary (149 Reade St., New York, N.Y., 212 - 566 Ð 7787) which begins October 14th and continues through December 18th, 2004.
“Splendor” catalogue focuses on recent works of Fujimura from his “Four Quartets” series and “Eirenepoios” installation, exhibited at Kristen Frederickson Contemporary Art in April of 2003, as well as “The Still Point”, exhibited at Takashimaya Gallery, Tokyo, Japan in December of 2003, and several new “Splendor” works.
Fujimura’s works emphasize the splendor and beauty of the medium of natural materials, of precious minerals and nikawa (Japanese hide glue ) painted on paper. Dr. Nicholas P. Wolterstorff of Yale University, in the catalogue essay, writes about the materials used by Fujimura:
“The mineral particles themselves are minute refractors; one notices a mysterious subdued sparkle embedded in the surface as one moves back and forth. The colors recede and advance in accord with their intrinsic character, giving depth to the space. And the density of layering makes them change as the light varies and one’s perspective alters. The surface is mysteriously alive."
The new New York exhibit will focus on twenty new paintings, and will include a video installation “Nagasaki Koi”. Fujimura notes, “These new paintings explore the process of creation, and the mysteries of the nature of the medium. ‘Nagasaki Koi’ takes video footage of Koi (Japanese carps) taken near the Ground Zero of Nagasaki, but the installation is designed to create a catacomb of hope.”
A “The Splendor of the Medium” catalogue is published through Poiema Press (ISBN 0-9740347-1-1). In addition to an essay by Dr. Wolterstorff (philosopher), the catalogue will contain essays by Dr. Read Schuchardt (media ecologist), Dr. Kristen Frederickson, and Makoto Fujimura.