Exploring the Enchanting Universe of Sumi Ink: Reiko Tsunashima’s Artworks at Kunst RAI / Art Amsterdam
Japanese artist Reiko Tsunashima invites art enthusiasts to explore the captivating world of Sumi-ink at Gallery KITAI booth in Kunst RAI / Art Amsterdam. Her unique approach to abstract representations, using Sumi on paper, unveils a mesmerizing journey through nature-inspired landscapes she aptly names “Scene of Sumi.”
Tsunashima’s artistic process involves a profound collaboration with nature, where the climate during production significantly influences the interplay of Sumi, water, and paper. The contingency of Sumi blurring during brush movements becomes an inevitable process, allowing her to express intangible emotions and evoke a sense of “something” from the artwork.
The meticulous cutting and layout of mats on panels showcase a calculated precision contributing to her established style—simple yet original. Each artwork acts as a window into the Sumi world, offering viewers a chance to immerse themselves in its diverse and captivating landscapes.
Sumi, or Japanese ink, with its over 2000 years of history in Oriental calligraphy and painting, remains a powerful medium. She meticulously grind the Sumi-ink, she dips the brush in plenty of water and Sumi-ink and applies it to the paper. Paper soaked with Sumi-ink and water can take many days to dry, and the way it dries and the images that appear will vary depending on the season, humidity and temperature of the day. Tsunashima patiently awaits the emergence of seascapes, distant mountain dawns, or abstract scenes as the paper dries. Each Sumi-inked window reveals a different place, another universe, or an alternate dimension, showcasing the diversity within her creations.
Her personal touch extends to every detail, harmonizing each unique Sumi-inkscape. A distinctive aspect of her work lies in assembling these rectangles to create entirely new spatial compositions. Explore the enchanting world of Reiko Tsunashima’s “Scene of Sumi” at Kunst RAI / Art Amsterdam, where each artwork is a window to a universe waiting to be discovered.
