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Space
II : November 2007 |
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| RYUMEI
MURAHASHI
KATANA
The Japanese Sword
copper
plate engravings
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Ryumei
Murahashi was born 1958 in Kokura City, Kitakyushu, Japan.
He studied Industrial Design at the Kyushu Art and Technology
University. After graduating in 1985, Murahashi returned
to the university laboratory and studied intaglio etching.
Since 1987, he has shown his work in one-person or group
exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. |
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In
1995, Murahashi began creating the KATANA series in the
uniform size, 87.75” x 23.27.” The series of
108 works was completed in 2006. In Buddhism, 108 represents
the number of human passions a person is said to possess.
Buddhist rosaries have 108 beads. |
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One
explanation for the signifigance of the number 108 is :
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There
are 18 passions derived from :
6 senses: to see, to hear, to smell, to taste, touch,
thought.
3 different feelings connected with each sense:
to like something, to not like it, and to feel neutral.
This becomes 36 passions because each of these 18
feeling are :
attached to pleasure, or detached from pleasure.
Each of the 36 passions has the potential to exist
3 times :
the past, the present and the future.
36
x 3 = 108 passions |
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| The
KATANA shape became Murahashi’s creative theme spontaneously.
The shape, as a Japanese spiritual symbol, is the inspiration
for his work.
The
work in this exhibition is printed on Japanese rice paper
with American printing ink. The main body of work are mounted
in the traditional format of the Japanese scroll. |
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