Japanese art is renowned for its distinctive aesthetics and cultural expressions. Incorporating Buddhist and Shinto influences, it emphasizes clean lines, subtle colors and an appreciation for “empty space”. Under the auspices of the Embassy of Japan in Greece, the Gounaropoulos Museum presents the exhibition “On the Paths of Japanese Aesthetics”.
The exhibition brings together works by three female Greek artists, conveying the philosophy of Japanese art. Ntina Anastasiadou (Sumi-e Zen Ink Painting), Maria Ghisi (Netsuke Japanese Miniature Sculpture) and Georgia Gremouti (Origami Paper Folding) capture Japanese aesthetics through their Mediterranean perspective. The choice of their subject matter and materials focuses on key aspects of Japanese art such as simplicity, transient beauty and the ephemeral.
The exhibition highlights Japanese values, such as the festive character of everyday life and the celebration of nature in all its forms. Hidden symbolisms raise environmental concerns, underscoring the need for ecological balance and the well-being of all living creatures. They also focus on themes of identity and transformation, embracing Japanese minimalist aesthetics.
The three female artists aspire to understand the essence of the universe through myths, symbols, geometry, the collective subconscious and the exploration of the material aspects of the world. Through their distinct creative journeys, they share ideas central to Japanese aesthetics: grace, simplicity, fleeting time, and celebration of nature.
Ntina Anastasiadou’s works, paintings (sumi-e) on handmade Japanese paper (washi) and fabric, ceramics and bronze sculptures (pumpkins, foxes), combine the everyday life of contemporary Japan with the principles and philosophical values created over the centuries.
The choice of her themes incorporates core values instilled in the Japanese culture (longevity, luck, perseverance, and glorification of nature). They embody the idea that the “Man has the same value as humble grasses, trees, birds and animals and is one of the links of life”, a concept that expresses the interconnectedness and equal worth within the natural world, suggesting that all living things, from the smallest plants to humans, are part of a larger, unified system and are equally valuable components of that system. This view emphasizes the importance of respecting all forms of life and acknowledges the human species as an integral part of a larger ecological web.
Maria Ghizi also focuses on the need to protect nature and preserve all the vital links. Inspired by Japanese mythology and folk legends, her sculptures focus on Japanese symbolic representations (dragonfly, heron, hummingbird, sparrow, iris, sunflower, lotus), the revival of ancient techniques, the authenticity and viability of organic surfaces, marble and stones that she chooses to process. Her art incorporates balance, rhythm and haiku poetry.
Following the Japanese minimalist aesthetics of simplicity and abstraction, Georgia Gremouti’s works focus on the essential. She transforms flat paper or fabric into sculptural forms (“floating” landscapes, living sculptures of light and shadows), often combining them with 3D technologies and wall installations. Her art embodies an intellectual and emotional journey that focuses on inner peace and the eternal flow of time.
The exhibition will run through June 21st.
TAGS: ARTS
