Shikansuiyo – Art of the One Hundred Year Forest

The literal meaning of the expression Shikansuiyo (紫幹翠葉) is “purple trunk, green leaves”, but it is used to refer to a beautiful scene of nature. From prehistoric times, the Japanese people have found beauty not only in Mt. Fuji and cherry blossom, but in the humble everyday nature of rice fields, wild flowers and birds, too.

The artists have prepared their works with particular thought for the shrine and its sacred forests, and with passion, awe and respect for nature and our daily lives. They include works by contemporary artists Takeshi Honda, who paints scenes of the Tono region of Tohoku, and Aki Fueda who specializes in images of animals and birds, as well as Masato Kobayashi, Taro Yamamoto, Hisashi Tenmyouya and Kota Hirakawa among many others. The media chosen for their works are the traditional Japanese forms of folding screens, hanging scrolls, partition screens (paintings) and folding fans. A centerpiece of the show will be folding fan-shaped paintings commissioned from approximately thirty contemporary artists, renowned for both their skill and talent, which will be exhibited along one wall. We hope you will enjoy the many lucid and expressive works on show in the amazing natural surroundings of Meiji Shrine.