Hiroki Murata Paintings

Touching Stone Japanese art gallery

Hiroki Murata

Tranquil Light II - Sumi-e at the Cutting Edge

May 1 - June 9, 2004

About the artist Hiroki Murata

At first glance, Hiroki Murata’s paintings resemble black-and-white photographs. In fact, his work evolved from the long tradition of Nihon-Ga (Japanese painting) and sumi-e. Hiroki Murata (b. 1968) resides in Chiba, near Tokyo, Japan. He studied Nihon-Ga under Japanese master, Ikuo Hirayama, at the prestigious Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His early works capture the energy of the large metropolis, using vibrant colors juxtaposed against an orderly and simple overall design. A notable hallmark of Murata’s paintings is a high level of sophistication, subtlety and meticulous attention to details, reflecting artist’s long disciplined training in Nihon-Ga.

In 2001, Murata traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico to paint. The setting couldn’t be more different from Tokyo. Wandering among the side streets and surrounding country, he was struck by the rustic beauty of the land, and most of all, by the quiet luminosity of the light. He wanted to capture not just the landscape, but the powerful feelings that seem to permeate this land. Upon returning to Japan, he proceeded to develop a revolutionary painting style. In the next few years, he moved away from the subtle Nihon-Ga style and experimented with the power and impact of black sumi ink on paper.

This new medium requires different approaches and techniques. When sumi ink penetrates into paper, it permanently occupies the spaces between paper fibers. Once absorbed, it cannot be displaced or diluted by adding more water. This characteristic of sumi-e is very different from that of oil painting, where layers of pigments can be added to cover previous brush strokes. In this regard, painting with sumi ink is somewhat analogous to dyeing fabrics. In the current body of work, Murata captured the nuance of natural light, using only black ink. He painted with broad washes of ink while selectively blocking ink from being absorbed into specific areas. He developed techniques that allowed him to create extraordinary scenes - like back-lit subjects against a bright background - which were normally very difficult to render by traditional sumi-e techniques. With the current direction, the artist has opened entirely new avenues to approach contemporary sumi-e.

In the current show, Murata explores the nuance of light. The theme of his latest work is highly symbolic. A repeating theme depicts high walls, separating the interior from the exterior, safety of tradition from exciting unexplored territories. The outside world is never revealed. There are only openings, windows and doorways, beaconing passages for crossing to the outside.

In recognition of the artist’s bold direction, Touching Stone Gallery and the Santa Fe-Japan Art & Culture Exchange Program invited Murata to show his latest work together with contemporary American sumi-e artist, Susan Christie. In conjunction with the show, these innovative artists will share their expertise and insight in a workshop, entitled "Novel Applications of Sumi-e for Contemporary Painting", at the Santa Fe Art Institute on May 10.

Click on images to view selected pieces

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