presents
Touching Stone - a Journey of the Mind
Photography - Tim Wong Calligraphy - Akiko Hirano
March 4 - April 6, 2005
Calligraphy © Akiko Hirano 2005 (Edition No. 1 Sold)
About the Exhibition Quiet unpretentious beauty, the essence of Japanese aesthetic, is also an endearing quality of the American Southwest. Touching Stone Gallery celebrates its 5th anniversary with a special exhibition to explore this aesthetic connection. "Touching Stone - a Journey of the Mind" is a collaboration between photographer Tim Wong and calligrapher Akiko Hirano. It is about an imaginary journey of a Japanese calligrapher who, while grinding ink on an inkstone, mind-travels back in time to a faraway and alien land. The story unfolds in a series of black-and-white images taken by Wong over a span of twelve years in Japan and the Southwest. A shrouded female figure (representing the mind of the calligrapher) roams the landscapes, leading the viewer from a Japanese Zen temple to the ancient Anasazi land of the Southwest. The journey is narrated with Japanese calligraphy pieces based on Japanese and Chinese poems, as well as original prose written by Hirano.
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Limited-edition original photographs & calligraphy pieces (Maximum edition number of 35)* Click on images to view, to order call 505-988-8072, see Inquiry/Order
*Regardless of the edition number, each photo/calligraphy piece is an original (not reproduced prints). Minor variations are expected. |
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I have always known that at last I would take this road But yesterday I did not know that it would be today - Arihara-no Narihira (825-880) - Calligraphy © Akiko Hirano, ink on paper (Edition No. 1 Sold, Edition No. 2 Sold, Edition No. 3 Sold, Edition No. 4 Sold, Edition No. 5 Sold, Edition No. 6 Sold, Edition No. 7 Sold, Edition No. 8 Sold, Edition No. 9 Sold, Edition No. 10 Sold)
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(Edition No. 1 Sold, Edition No. 2 Sold) |
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(Edition No. 1 Sold)
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(Edition No. 1 Sold)
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| Transcendence
Series: No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 Selenium-toned silver prints © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed |
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Wind rustles the bamboos by the windows in the dusk - Ohtomo-no Yakamochi (718-785) - Calligraphy © Akiko Hirano, ink on paper |
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| Inkstone Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed (Edition No. 1 Sold) |
Tsukubai Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed |
Rustling
Bamboos Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed (Edition No. 3 Sold) |
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| The Path Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 16"x20" framed (Edition No. 1 Sold, Edition No. 2 Sold Edition No. 3 Sold)
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From ancient time to present there were not two paths - from Zenrinkushu (Eicho 1429-1504) - Calligraphy © Akiko Hirano, ink on paper (Edition No. 1 Sold, Edition 2 Sold, Edition No. 3 Sold, Edition No. 4 Sold) |
Enzo Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 16"x20" framed (Edition No. 1 Sold)
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| Equinox Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed (Edition No. 3 Sold)
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Emergence Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 16"x20" framed
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Rising Spirit
No. 2 Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed
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| Sun Dagger Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 16"x20" framed (Edition No. 3 Sold) |
Touching Stone - a Journey of the Mind - Calligraphy © Akiko Hirano, ink on paper (See English version below) |
Circle of Stone Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 16"x20" framed (Edition No. 3 Sold) |
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| Eternal
Traveler No. 1 Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed
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Time is an endlessly passing traveler - Li Pai (701-762) Months and days are eternal travelers Passing years are travelers too - from Oku-no-Hosomichi (Matsuo Basho 1644-1694) - Calligraphy © Akiko Hirano, ink on paper (Edition No. 1 Sold, Edition No. 2 Sold) |
Eternal
Traveler No. 2 Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed (Edition No. 1 Sold)
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| Mystic Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed (Edition No. 1 Sold, Edition No. 2 Sold, Edition No. 3 Sold, Edition No. 4 Sold Edition No. 5 Sold) |
From a mountain temple the sound of a bell struck fumblingly vanishes in the mist - Yosano Buson (1716-1784) - Calligraphy © Akiko Hirano, ink on paper (Edition No. 1 Sold, Edition No. 2 Sold) |
Return to
Harmony Selenium-toned silver print © Tim Wong 20"x16" framed
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Touching Stone - a Journey of the Mind Against the inkstone the ink stick grinds setting free my mind Rustling the bamboo leaves a light breeze plays in the twilight A bird takes wing, leading me on a pilgrimage to a time long forgotten An amber light glows in the dark, illuminating a new life emerging Into the warmth of Mother Earth the open arms of Father Sky across mesas and canyons like waves Atop the most sacred place Sun Dagger finds its home White and blue the dancers' sash stained a brilliant crimson red For a thousand years in a circle of stone the fiery drums reverberate Right and left forth and back the Kachinas dance ne'er touching ground O'er the rock walls their spirits soar free at last as clouds Returning to earth the Owner of Fire transformed into a gift of beauty Tonight the wind still blows the bamboo grove sways My heart rejoins the inkstone in perfect harmony
- Original in Japanese by Akiko Hirano |
Click to read article by Elizabeth Cook-Romero on this show in Pasatiempo, The New Mexican's Weekly Magazine of Arts & Culture.
