Sumi-e specialist Hiroko Nagafuchi and her students will exhibit their paintings at the Japan Foundation Gallery from 8 – 23 March.

Translated as ‘black ink painting’, the intriguing art of sumi-e has been widely praised for its timeless elegance and its ability to capture the essence of a subject matter with a few eloquent strokes.

Though simple in appearance, every brush stroke applied is a meaningful gesture in dialogue between the artist and the stroke. Each stroke released is said to possess its own individuality.

Spiritually rooted in Zen Buddhism, sumi-e can be traced back 2000 years ago as practiced by devout monks. And so to practice sumi-e, a tranquil approach is essential. The mind is clear; the artist engages in the subject as he/she attempts to portray the heart and spirit of the subject.

For visitors who would like to try a hand in the art of sumi-e, Nagafuchi will be running workshops on Saturday 13 March at the Japan Foundation Gallery. There are two sessions available on the day, 11am or 1pm. Each session will run for approximately 50 mins and includes all materials. Workshops are priced at $15 for the general public/ $10 for Japan Foundation members; exhibition is free. Visitors are welcome to attend and observe.

Nagafuchi has been teaching sumi-e since 1974, having taught at Tokyo Art School as a sumi-e teacher and later running her own sumi-e school. She teaches casually at the Art Gallery of NSW (Asian Art) and has had several solo exhibitions to date.