Fall 2003 Exhibition
Sakai Hōitsu (1761–1828)
Waterbird and Grass
Hanging scroll
[Clark Family Collection]
Script and Image
September 2 – November 29, 2003
The Clark Center for Japanese Art reopens to the public after its annual summer break with Script and Image — an exhibition which explores the history and closely intertwined connection between writing and image in Japanese art. Often ignored by the Western connoisseur of Japanese art, calligraphy or shodō - practiced for over 1000 years in Japan — is one of the most abstract forms of artistic expression. The art of writing in Japan is widely considered to be the foundation upon which many great artists learned and practiced the fundamentals of line and balance on a blank page.
Chinese characters were imported to Japan well before the 6th century, but it was not until Buddhism's introduction to Japan that they were studied widely and literacy of any kind began to spread. By the 10th century, the Japanese were well versed in written Chinese and had adapted Chinese characters to the syllabic nature of the Japanese language.
Beginning with a brief visual introduction to the written language in Japan and Japanese art, Script and Image explores the diverse nature of visual expression which developed out of the relationship between written Chinese and the Japanese languages. The varied works in the exhibition, which include Buddhist sutra, poetry and letters, are taken from the permanent collection of the Clark Center for Japanese Art with many never-before-seen pieces drawn from the Addiss-Seo Nanga Collection.
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Script and Image Members' Reception is on Sunday, September 7, 2003, 2 pm
Associate Curator Elizabeth Beller will tour members through the new
exhibition.
Limited seating. Please RSVP by September 5 to (559) 582-4915.
Gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday 1 – 5 pm. Closed on national holidays and during the month of August.
Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for students with valid ID. Children 12 and under free.
Weekly docent tours are held Saturdays at 1 pm and guided group tours can be arranged by calling the Center in advance at (559) 582-4915.