True to its mission of raising awareness of Asian arts, the departmental Museum of Asian Arts will offer workshops in origami, the art of Japanese paper folding, Chinese calligraphy, shufa, or Japanese calligraphy, shodo, and Sumi-e.
These will take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 p.m., and will be open to adults and children.
Whether in daily life or special occasions, Asian expression aims for harmony between technique and spirituality, as illustrated by the demonstrations of the museum’s workshop artists.
– Origami, or the art of Japanese paper folding by Keiko Yokoyama
– Saturday, February 5 and Wednesday, February 16
The art of Japanese paper folding, a sign of good Japanese upbringing, has been passed down through many generations. Without glue or cutting, origami includes hundreds of folding models, such as the three fundamentals: the crane (the most representative of Japanese aesthetics due
to its delicacy), the frog (the most plastic), and the crab (the most intricate). In addition to the traditional models, contemporary creations are constantly being added.
– Japanese calligraphy, Shodo, by Keiko Yokoyama
– Wednesday, February 9 and Saturday, February 26
– Chinese calligraphy, Shufa, by Lin Chi-Yi
– Saturday, February 12 and Wednesday, February 23
Among all the arts, calligraphy, Shufa, holds a privileged position in China because the oldest Chinese traditions attribute magical power to writing: writing is a means of taking possession of the universe by probing and uncovering its secrets. Although this sacred nature has gradually faded, calligraphy remains a spiritual discipline. As a means of expression, calligraphy allows its practitioner to undertake an inner experience whose ultimate goal is self-perfection and achieving, through creation, communion with the universe.
