A few musings about matcha inspired creativity, creative co-labs, inspirations and practices as well as a presentation of three original artworks coming out from the Shibumi studio.
Ever since I’ve dived into the world of matcha, I felt as if I was guided into richer way of being in the world – more in flux, alert and creative. My creative journey started by collaborating with ceramic artists in making matcha bowls and understanding the aesthetic appeal of wabi-sabi concept - all during endless matcha sharing rituals! It was interesting to realise that I had always been drawn to this aesthetic style, but had no concept to assign it to. So learning about the Japanese philosophy behind the tea ceremonies did feel as if arriving home, both mentally and emotionally. I was always the one coming up with ideas, doing research, studying and intellectually articulating things, so when my collaborator ceramic artist prompted me to make something out of clay, I just brushed the idea off. Yet over time, I would try my hand at playing with paints, especially after moving to New Zealand and having more time and help with understanding the materiality aspect of the process. It started with some champagne and graphite one New Year’s eve and here I am, several years later, mocking up some of my creations to share it with you on this platform for the first time.
When I lived in Lithuania, over a period of years I would attend summer dance school with numerous edge-breaking dance and movement teachers from around the world. In one particular workshop we were given a task to draw something after each movement exercise. What we noticed was a clear improvement of the drawings, even just within a couple of hours and that dance and movement has a positive effect on how you draw. It showed that drawing, along with having a set of skills, is also very much a state of mind seeping through your fingers. While dance would help me get out of my head and into my feet, playing with paint now allows me to get out of my head and into my hands. All these practices if used together are all about us becoming more well-rounded humans. At least this is how I see it.
I have chosen three artworks to share. First, Jackson Pollock inspired splashes mixed with gold as seen in the first image just above. It was very liberating to throw paint on the canvases and just seeing where it goes without knowing in advance the final outcome. It felt an artistic exploration, active meditation, totally focusing me in the now without any forced mental efforts. How applying gold to this particular artwork transformed the painting and how it changes depending on the light and the angle of the viewer still mesmerises me.
Second, Kazimir Malevich inspired black textured square made with pumice giving me reminisces of my time spent at Lake Taupo. Malevich's black square has always felt to me a very brave statement in a world of colour, and adding pumice and texturizing it in a way that would focus my mind rather than allow it to wander around gave me a feeling of being here and now, a feeling of arriving rather than still travelling.
And third, paying homage to New Zealand artist Gordon Walters whose work has mesmerised me ever since I encountered his collection at Auckland Art Gallery. I found it symbolic, refined and captivating showing how restricting yourself is not hurting creativity, but actually allows to discover new and numerous ways to express the chosen elements.
All artworks are available and digitally displayed here to envisage how they look in different interior settings. Hope you find them pleasing to your eyes!