In this conversation, Mako Fujimura, an abstract expressionist artist and a bridge between art and faith, shares his unique journey. He delves into 'slow art' and the deep emotional process behind traditional Japanese Nihonga painting, emphasizing the importance of taking time in creative expression. Mako reflects on Kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery, symbolizing beauty in imperfection. He also addresses the dialogues between faith and personal struggles, advocating for empathy and connection in both art and community.
Makoto Fujimura advocates for redefining cultural metaphors from battlegrounds to ecosystems, emphasizing care and creativity in art and faith.
Fujimura's practice of slow art through traditional Nihonga painting illustrates the importance of meditative observation in revealing life’s complexities.
Deep dives
Milestones and Achievements
In 2024, the podcast achieved significant milestones, moving from the top 10% of podcasts to the top 1%, and gaining airplay on over 40 public radio stations across the country. The recognition includes receiving its first prominent industry honor, the Silver Signal Award, which underscores the podcast's dedication to its mission. These accomplishments are framed as reflections of the impact the show aims to have on listeners' lives and communities, signifying a commitment to fostering meaningful connections. The gratitude expressed towards listeners further emphasizes the collaborative nature of the podcast's journey and its ambition to engage a broad audience.
Mako Fujimura's Artistic Philosophy
Mako Fujimura, an abstract expressionist artist, discusses his belief that the current cultural metaphor should shift from a battleground to an ecosystem that fosters care and creativity. He draws on his technique of Nihonga, a traditional Japanese painting method which involves slow, meticulous layering, symbolizing a deeper human experience of perception and beauty. This slow art process invites viewers to engage beyond superficial observations, revealing increasingly nuanced details through meditative observation. Fujimura’s approach emphasizes that the act of viewing and creating art is consequential in understanding and appreciating the complexities of life.
Integration of Art and Faith
Fujimura addresses the perceived divide between art and faith, asserting that both realms can coexist meaningfully rather than remain separated. He shares his personal journey of reconciling his artistic endeavors with his Christian faith, illustrating how both elements inform and enrich one another. This integration challenges the notion that artists must choose between their creative pursuits and their spiritual beliefs, positioning art as a medium for exploring higher truths. The listener is encouraged to understand that real art embodies a quest for deeper connections, breaching cultural divides and promoting communal understanding.
Kintsugi and the Meaning of Brokenness
Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, serves as a metaphor for finding beauty in brokenness and the stories that emerge from it. Fujimura reflects on how this philosophy relates to human experiences, suggesting that life's imperfections and histories add value and depth rather than diminish it. This idea resonates with the notion that, much like art, the scars of past traumas can lead to new possibilities and expressions of beauty. By emphasizing that brokenness can be sacred, Fujimura invites a re-evaluation of how society perceives flaws and vulnerabilities in both art and life.
Makoto Fujimura occupies an unusual intersection of personal realities: He is an abstract expressionist artist who discovered his Christian faith as an art student in Japan. He continually finds himself trying to bridge the divide between religion and art. “I can't really talk about my faith with my artist friends, and I can't talk about art with my Christian friends,” he says. “But for me, it's never been that way.” In this episode, he talks about how he uses traditional Japanese methods of painting — “slow art,” as he calls it — to explore grief, brokenness, and healing.
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