“CANDID IN MAY”: Works by Princeton-based artist Makoto Fujimura are on view at Morpeth Contemporary in Hopewell through May 31. An artist reception, by appointment only, is Saturday, May 8 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Morpeth Contemporary, at 43 West Broad Street, Hopewell, now presents works by internationally-renowned, Princeton-based artist Makoto Fujimura. Entitled “Candid in May,” the exhibition contains Nihonga paintings and prints emblematic of the deep exploration that has made Fujimura a leader in a cultural movement that bridges art and faith.
Nihonga — literally meaning “Japanese painting”— was developed in about 1900 to differentiate Japanese works from Western style paintings. It is a water-based medium that is often characterized by its materials, including natural pigments derived from minerals, shells, corals, and even semi-precious stones; metals like gold and silver leaf; and the use of “sumi” ink, wood, silk, and paper. As described by Fujimura, it is also characterized by the time it takes to create — from pulverizing materials into millions of sand-like pigments to waiting for each of up to 100 layers to dry before painting the next.
Fujimura’s Nihonga works have been described by David Brooks of the New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time.” They are “slow art,” meaning, as the artist puts it, that they are both slow to make, and slow to perceive. “It takes time,” Fujimura says, “for the eyes to see the refracted and prismatic light in the pictures.”
The exhibition contains works born of the nature that surrounds his Princeton farmhouse and studio – from flowers, trees, and birds. Its name, “Candid in May,” is inspired by Fujimura’s admiration for the poet Emily Dickinson: “[She] acutely observed a singular, momentary event, only seconds long, and she expanded that glimpse of that micro-experience into a vast adventure. This is the nature of the poetic gift — the poet takes a quick glance, a moment most of us would not even see, and expands it to a cosmic level of significance.”
Fujimura’s works are such moments. They are expanded glimpses, in his case, of a spiritual process that bridges imperfection and beauty, brokenness, and healing.
Fujimura, who graduated from Bucknell University in 1983, received his MFA in 1989 from Tokyo University of Fine Arts, then spent three years in a doctorate program in Nihonga. He was the first non-Japanese citizen to participate in the Japanese Painting Doctorate Program, which can be traced back to the 15th century. His art has been exhibited in many galleries and museums around the world. Fujimura’s journey of faith is recounted in his books: Silence and Beauty, and Art + Faith.
The exhibition runs through May 31. An artist reception is Saturday, May 8 from 5 to 8 p.m., by appointment only to safely observe occupant limits during COVID.
To attend the reception, register via the website at morpethcontemporary.com/exhibitions, or contact the gallery at (609) 333-9393.
Viewing hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., no appointment necessary.