Yuichi, Inoue Ajisai (= Hortensie). 1973. Tusche... Lot n° 353

American Modernism Abstract Expressionism Yuichi, Inoue Ajisai (= hydrangea). 1973. India ink on gossamer china, rolled onto Japan. Visible dimensions 19 x 20 cm. With stamp signature. Mounted on support and framed under glass (unopened). - Some studio traces due to technique, otherwise apparently in very good condition. Unagami, Catalogue Raisonné, Vol. 2, No. 73194 - Provenance: German private collection, acquired at the Japan Art Galerie Friedrich Müller. - Depicting a waka, a classic genre of Japanese poetry, which can be translated as follows: I heard on the wind that my old house was torn down/I wonder if the hydrangea are blooming/Through a window that is no more (cf. Unagami, Vol. 2., 73150). - Yu-Ichi, who worked in Tokyo all his life, is today one of Japan's most important artists of the 20th century. With his expressive works, he is usually mentioned in the same breath as the great representatives of Abstract Expressionism Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell. The critic Herbert Read mentions YU-ICHI in his book "A Concise History of Modern Painting", while Robert Motherwell describes him as one of the few great artists of the second half of the century. Despite his international recognition, he only took part in a few exhibitions in order to focus his energy on artistic creation instead, in which he finds an approach to expressing his energies with the help of kanji characters. He is not interested in the aesthetics of the characters, but concentrates on the free development of his inner strength, which is expressed directly in his writing. In this way, Yu-Ichi transcends the boundaries of traditional calligraphy to achieve radical expressiveness. - Inoue Yûichi's works can be found in numerous important collections worldwide such as the National Museum of Modern Art in Tôkyô and Kyôto, the Museum of Modern Art New York, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and others (see https://www.japan-art.com/artists/26-yu-ichi-%28inoue-yuichi%29/overview/, accessed on 29.05.2024). Ink on china, rolled onto Japan. Visible dimensions 19 x 20 cm. With stamp signature. Mounted on underlying mat and framed under glass (unopened). - Some studio traces due to technique, otherwise apparently in very good condition. - Provenance: Private collection, Germany. Acquired at the Japan Art Galerie Friedrich Müller. - Yu-Ichi is considered one of Japan's most important artists of the 20th century. With his expressive works, he is usually mentioned in the same breath as the great representatives of Abstract Expressionism Franz Kline and Robert Motherwell, and his contemporaries look up to him. Despite his international recognition, he only took part in a few exhibitions, focusing his energy on his artistic work instead. Yu-Ichi found an approach to expressing his artistic energy with the help of kanji characters. He is not interested in the aesthetics of the characters, but concentrates on the free flow of his inner strength, which is expressed directly in writing. In this way, Yu-Ichi transcends the boundaries of traditional calligraphy to achieve radical expressiveness. - Inoue Yûichi's works can be found in numerous important collections worldwide, such as the National Museum of Modern Art in Tôkyô and Kyôto, the Museum of Modern Art New York, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and others (see https://www.japan-art.com/artists/26-yu-ichi-%28inoue-yuichi%29/overview/, accessed on 29 May 2024).