I love to make cherry blossom themed artworks, so I wanted to hold my solo exhibition during the cherry blossom season. I am really grateful that I could hold my first solo exhibition in a nostalgic Japanese old house near Meguro river, Tokyo, where cherry blossoms are really famous. This exhibition is already one of my best memories.
2022 Shihomi Homma Solo exhibition
2022 Shihomi Homma Solo exhibition2022 Shihomi Homma Solo exhibition
Sometimes different “Kanji”(Chinese character) 円窓 is used for “Enso”, represents “round window”, which means our mind’s window.
Enso is one of Sumi ink painting (Japanese calligraphy) in Zen.
Usually it is drawn in one brushstroke, and is sometimes called “Ichienzu”(一円図)、”Ichienso”(一円相).
~Enso symbolizes absolute enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe and “mu”(無)(meaning void). It is characterized by a minimalism born of Japanese aesthetics.~
*Quaoted from Wikipedia
Japanese aesthetics seeking for simplicity is called Wabi-sabi.
Wabi expresses the happiness and mental abundance in the imperfect (hard) circumstances.
Sabi expresses the beauty we can find in imperfection.
So Wabi can be a symbol of inner abundance, and Sabi can be a symbol of outer beauty(simplicity).
When you draw Enso, you have to draw it in one brushstroke, meaning there is no time to stop, no chance to fix.
It is the moment when the mind should be free, and let go of everything.
This is ZEN meditation practice.
In other words, this spiritual practice of drawing Enso is the practice of self-realization.
Sometimes Enso circle is open, which means incomplete.
This incomplete allows more movement, development and practice.
When Enso circle is closed, which represents perfection.
However, how you look at Enso circle and what you have in your mind by looking at it, is totally up to you.
Enso circle is simple, yet really profound and teaches us a lot.
It never stops attracting us, because our entire life is a long trip of self-realization.
I love to draw Enso circle, but at the same time, I love to look at Enso.
Looking at Enso circle is a good meditation.
Gold ZEN circle Enso Japanese painting Kakejiku hanging scrollZen circle Enso with Japanese Sakura and Pine tree hanging scrollZen circle with Koi fish paintingExtra large Japanese Suibokuga painting Zen circle Enso and Bamboo KakejikuGolden Enso and Mt. Fuji Japanese painting KakejikuKimono silk Zen circle Enso and Sakura KakejikuExtra long Zen circle Enso and bamboo Suibokuga painting kakejiku
Have you ever heard phrase “ICHIGO ICHIE”(一期一会) in Japanese?
This is ZEN spirit.
ZEN 禅
It means, “once in a life time meeting”.
This spirit comes from the Japanese tea ceremony.
Japanese tea ceremony
The Tea ceremony has a deep connection with ZEN spirits.
When I tried the Japanese tea ceremony for the first time, I was surprised that the tea ceremony has so many rules.
Before, I used to think the tea ceremony was just a simple act of making green tea.
But every single movement has to be done followed by rules, such as, which leg you use to step into the room with first, how you hold the tools, where you put your tools, in which angle you move your arms, and how you open the tea container, how you hold the whisk and how you stir, and so on…
It’s just about a process that takes only a few minutes, however there are hundreds of etiquettes.
I was overwhelmed when I took part in the ceremony.
Then I started to wonder, why there are so many rules…
The tea ceremony teacher told me this was because of “ICHIGO ICHIE”(一期一会) – “ZEN spirit.”
Tea ceremony is an occasion when you enjoy every single moment.
The people gathering, the weather, the place, the sound, every element gets together and makes it an unforgettable event.
There is the spirit of “OMOTENASHI”(おもてなし), meaning Japanese Hospitality in this ceremony.
To make the most of the moment with the greatest hospitality, the tea master tries to do her or his best of making green tea.
For example, purifying the tools followed by the rules, the tea master shows respect to the guests.
That is the reason why there are so many rules.
By following the rules, the best moment is made, and the guests and the master can experience a great “once in a life time moment”.
“ICHIGO ICHIE”(一期一会) teaches us that the exact each moment we meet with others in our life never comes back and only one time, so we should make the most of it and give our best hospitality with appreciation.
