No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp cover image

No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp

190: Unabridged Interview: Makoto Fujimura

Jan 10, 2025
Makoto Fujimura, a renowned contemporary artist, merges traditional Japanese techniques with abstract expressionism while exploring the relationship between art and faith. He discusses his 'slow art,' emphasizing the meditative process and the importance of savoring creativity in a fast-paced world. Mako delves into Kintsugi, celebrating beauty in brokenness, and reflects on inherited trauma, particularly from Hiroshima. He also explores how the arts can foster cultural understanding and healing amid societal divides, highlighting the role of empathy through personal anecdotes.
01:19:27

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Mako Fujimura emphasizes the concept of 'slow art,' where meticulous layering in Nihonga painting reflects a meditative creative process intertwined with the passage of time.
  • Through Kintsugi, Mako illustrates that embracing brokenness enhances value and beauty, transforming trauma into an aesthetics that celebrates imperfection and history.

Deep dives

The Essence of Nihonga and Slow Art

Nihonga, a traditional style of Japanese painting, utilizes specific techniques involving layers and the creation of pigments from natural materials. Mako Fujimura describes this art form as 'slow art' because it often consists of 100 to 150 thin layers applied meticulously, which allows for a meditative and reflective creative process. By taking the time to build these layers, artists not only engage with the materials but also with the concept of time itself, creating works that evolve and reveal depth over time. The emphasis on the process, rather than a quick result, parallels the artist's desire to make art that stands against the fast-paced, often shallow digital imagery prevalent in today's society.

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