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Japanese Artist Worked 10 Hours/Day For 3.5 Years To Create His Giant Pen & Ink Drawing
Japan is an example of a tough nation stronger than its buildings. After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and the tsunami that followed, Japan was hurting badly, but almost six years later the country has rebuilt. And Manabu Ikeda, a pen & ink artist, went through a similar process with the just recently finished massive drawing called Rebirth.
Manabu started work on Rebirth back in 2013 and since then he was sinking 10 hours a day, six days a week, to finish this 13×10 foot piece (it took him 3.5 years). It depicts a tree growing out of all the carnage caused by the disasters, surrounded by the tsunami waves crashing into the tree. But that’s only the surface of the image. If you look closer, you’ll see that the drawing consists of a myriad of tiny details which capture thousands of stories that were unfolding during the catastrophic events.
“My goal is to faithfully express my view of the world in my composition, but I don’t intentionally depict detailed images,” he told the Chazen Museum of Art. “Because I see details when I observe things, rather than the whole, I find pen and ink to be the best tools to express how I see them.”
More info: Manabu Ikeda (h/t: demilked, colossal)
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What do you think ?
Cesi Baca 8 years ago
It's amazing, but I wonder how he could afford to devote that much time to one thing and still pay the bills. Maybe he got a huge commission or something.
Aditya Gopar 8 years ago
I think the process itself is an exhibition. And yes, it might be someone/institute/government might sponsor/support the project caused by the philosophy he carried in the project.
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Ronja Rövardotter 8 years ago
I found the word "hope" in the blossom :) Can you see it too? There are very deep meanings hidden in this painting.
Evelyn Pantel 8 years ago
Um, "...very deep meanings," I guess one has to have a more refined eye than I do to see any purpose other that displaying the artist's talent.
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Denise Neil 8 years ago
You sir are an amazingly talented individual. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us mere mortals. Truly breathtaking!!
Elizabeth Bradfield 8 years ago
He should enter that in ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI. He'd win for sure--$50,000 USD prize!
Lord Beerus 8 years ago
How does one have so much patience? If it were me i would've given up in a few weeks!
Lucia Lintnerová 8 years ago
watching him cry at the end of that video was so damn touching. he put so much effort into this painting, it's so beautiful - a giant sakura tree bursting out of a sea of garbage and blooming to so many colors ... it trully is inspiring
Joel Ei 8 years ago
Same way I do: live on $700/month from SSDI, because nobody will hire me because I'm deaf.
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Evelyn Pantel 8 years ago
The work is fantastic - incredible talent... But, the image is totally inexplicable. Camels crossing a 'rope' bridge; planes flying out of the water...the 'weird' and unreal aspects destroy the purpose of that work which was to show the REBIRTH after the earthquake and tsunami... Nothing in it suggests any form of rebirth. Just unrelated images that essentially show...nothing other than his talent. Which is enormous, but don't muddy the talent by claiming the picture to have a relationship to an event.
Cesi Baca 8 years ago
It's amazing, but I wonder how he could afford to devote that much time to one thing and still pay the bills. Maybe he got a huge commission or something.
Aditya Gopar 8 years ago
I think the process itself is an exhibition. And yes, it might be someone/institute/government might sponsor/support the project caused by the philosophy he carried in the project.
Load More Replies... Ronja Rövardotter 8 years ago
I found the word "hope" in the blossom :) Can you see it too? There are very deep meanings hidden in this painting.
Evelyn Pantel 8 years ago
Um, "...very deep meanings," I guess one has to have a more refined eye than I do to see any purpose other that displaying the artist's talent.
Load More Replies... Denise Neil 8 years ago
You sir are an amazingly talented individual. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us mere mortals. Truly breathtaking!!
Elizabeth Bradfield 8 years ago
He should enter that in ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI. He'd win for sure--$50,000 USD prize!
Lord Beerus 8 years ago
How does one have so much patience? If it were me i would've given up in a few weeks!
Lucia Lintnerová 8 years ago
watching him cry at the end of that video was so damn touching. he put so much effort into this painting, it's so beautiful - a giant sakura tree bursting out of a sea of garbage and blooming to so many colors ... it trully is inspiring
Joel Ei 8 years ago
Same way I do: live on $700/month from SSDI, because nobody will hire me because I'm deaf.
Load More Replies... Evelyn Pantel 8 years ago
The work is fantastic - incredible talent... But, the image is totally inexplicable. Camels crossing a 'rope' bridge; planes flying out of the water...the 'weird' and unreal aspects destroy the purpose of that work which was to show the REBIRTH after the earthquake and tsunami... Nothing in it suggests any form of rebirth. Just unrelated images that essentially show...nothing other than his talent. Which is enormous, but don't muddy the talent by claiming the picture to have a relationship to an event.
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