For this week’s Photo Challenge: Patterns I thought I’d take you back in time with me to a wonderful exhibition in the mysterious city of Matera. The Artist I have in mind is Kengiro Azuma a fellow ex-pat, though he of course was originally from Japan. We went down to Puglia in the summer of 2010 and couldn’t resist a day trip to Matera, which though in Basilicata was just a two-hour trip from where we were staying. I’d been in Matera in 1987 and have fallen in love with its primitive beauty!
This exhibition is entitled “Mu“: in the artists words:
«Ogni oggetto presenta un dualismo tra gli opposti, come il pieno e il vuoto, il bene e il male. Ciò che ha guidato la mia ricerca è l’interesse per il Mu, che è invisibile, come l’anima, la fantasia, il sogno. Il Mu, pur opponendosi allo Yu, ha bisogno di quest’ultimo per manifestarsi. Alla base di ogni mia opera c’è, infatti, il disegno che, frutto dei miei pensieri, è invisibile. Ma per completare il lavoro, devo andare oltre il disegno e dar forma all’invisibile»
(Every object is a dualism of opposites, like fullness and emptiness, good and bad. My research was guided by my interest in Mu, which is invisible, like the soul, or imagination or a dream. Mu is the opposite of Yu, and needs the later to be manifested. The basis of every one of my works is, in fact, a drawing, which is the fruit of my thoughts and is invisible. In order to complete the work, I have to go beyond the drawing and give form to that which is invisible.)
The country side near Matera is hostile, dry and pitted with caves:
As you approach the city you notice its peculiar rhythmic pattern:
Entrance of the exhibition in the cave church complexes of Madonna delle Virtù and San Nicola dei Greci:
What is the sound
of just one hand clapping
Mu!
Ciao!
thank you for featuring Kengiro Azuma – a very interesting artist, indeed!
I’m glad you found him interesting…he’s a walking koan! 🙂
Just…Wow! 🙂
I’m happy you liked it! 🙂
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Thanks for the ping back! 😉
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Great pictures, Bastet! Especially the landscape with the caves and the way the town is laid out. You are fortunate to have seen these beautiful images! 🙂
PS: I will refrain from commenting on Mu! Check out my post for today if you would like to know why…
Ohhhh…sounds inviting. 🙂 I’m going immediately!
Excellent photos for this challenge, Bastet. Thanks for the translation. 🙂
janet
No problem, as the Italians would say: dovere (my duty). 😉 I’m glad you enjoyed the trip.
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Thanks for the pingback.
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what a great post! thanks for Pingback, I am now following!
I’m glad you enjoyed it and thank you for following!
Welcome…and I am following you too! Really loved your post!
Wonderful photos, looks like I need to add this to my list of places to go…. some day.
Yes, you’d love it! The landscape all around the city is really unearthly…
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Thank you for the pingback!
A treasure found in your post! Until I read this and then went online to learn more about this fascinating man and sculptor I had not heard of Kengiro Azuma. Thank you for sharing your words and images.
It was my pleasure! Thank you for your comment, but above all thank you for having gone that step further! Have a lovely day.
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