Brush ways

The traditional painting style of Sumi-e is a cultural cornerstone of Japanese art. Loosely translated to black ink painting, this artistic discipline is rooted in subtlety and a spiritual connection to the subject matter being depicted. On view now at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) in Toronto, a large group show dedicated to this treasured art form, Sumi-e: The Way of the Brush, features the work of more than 10 artists, and explores the foundational importance of Sumi-e within the Japanese-Canadian narrative. 

Founded in 1963, the JCCC promotes Japanese culture and Japanese-Canadian Heritage through a broad spectrum of cultural programs, festivals, performances and art exhibitions. Specifically, The Moriyama Nikkei Heritage Centre – part of the larger JCCC facility – is home to various memorabilia and installations that explore the Japanese diaspora within a Canadian context. Adjacent to the Heritage Centre is the JCCC Art Gallery, featuring works of contemporary art and design.    

On view now until July 22, Sumi-e: The Way of the Brush gives visitors an in-depth look at the history of Sumi-e and its integral role at the JCCC. It was the first-ever cultural art class offered at the Centre and is still taught there today – almost six decades later. Featuring a range of subject matter from the natural world, the exhibition highlights the vast diversity of Sumi-e through the brush strokes of Japanese-Canadian artists. From Marie Ikeda’s close-framed depictions of bamboo stalks to Roslyn Levin’s serene portraits of horses and wolves, the show celebrates the powerful complexity of our environment. 

Possibly the most revered and influential of the exhibition’s featured artists is Ruth Yamada (1923 – 2001). Apart from being the JCCC’s first-ever Sumi-e instructor, Yamada founded the Toronto-based group Sumi-e Artists of Canada. The accomplished watercolourist’s works were exhibited in a number of solo exhibitions in Canada and in group shows internationally. In Sumi-e: The Way of the Brush, three of Yamada’s works are on view: Canadian Winter, depicting a snow-covered hillside and pine tress in the Canadian wilderness; Fast Water, featuring a rushing and rocky waterfall; and Morning Flight, a subtle and foggy morning view of sparse pine trees and two seagulls in flight. 

The work of another legend of Sumi-e – and the mentor of Ruth Yamada – Marjorie Pigott (1904 – 1990) is also included in the exhibition. Pigott moved from Japan to Vancouver in 1940 and later worked as an art instructor, teaching students the artistic style of Japan’s Nanga School – among her pupils was a young Ruth Yamada. Pigott’s style of Sumi-e is characterized by her striking use of colour, creating a unique, blended palette for each work. 

Don’t miss Sumi-e: The Way of the Brush on view now until July 22 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.