Name: Nihonga: Neo Japanese Painting
Start: 2024-05-18T14:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-05-18T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Thames City

Dive into liberating action painting using traditional Japanese techniques and mineral pigments
About this Event

Nihonga: Neo Japanese Painting

Saturday, 18 May 2024, 2 - 6 pm

4-hour class with Elena Shkvarkina with a Japanese afternoon tea break hosted by Sonia Shi

Please see refund policy in Q&A section below

About the course

A rare opportunity to learn a time-honoured painting technique that is academically taught to this day only in Japan. Originating during the Meiji era (1868-1912) Japanese painting or Nihonga was introduced to preserve traditional Japanese painting methods and differentiate it from Yoga (Western-style painting). Today, with innovations in synthetic pigment production, interdisciplinary application techniques and cultural interpretations, Nihonga has evolved highlighting its contemporary adaptability and dynamism. Originating during the Meiji era (1868-1912) Japanese painting or Nihonga was

During this workshop, you will:

Discover what is Japanese-style painting (Nihonga) and its historical and contemporary significance.
Create 2 unique abstract paintings on paper mounted on MDF board 15 x 15 cm (ready-to-use panels will be provided).
Make your paint by mixing earth pigments (Suihi-enogu), mineral pigments (Iwa-inogu) and synthetic pigments with animal glue (Nikawa). Different colours and particle sizes will be introduced to build up textures.
Learn how to prepare the most challenging pigment - Gofun - a traditional pure white pigment made of pulverised oyster shells that require special grinding (Karazuri) and kneading techniques before it can be used as paint.
Paint abstract motifs with Elena’s signature technique that departs from conventional brushwork using liberating strikes and swings instead.

This workshop is for

Anyone interested in the therapeutic power of art, traditional and contemporary arts, gemmology, art conservation or a new skill and cultural enrichment. No sketching or figurative drawing skills are required. This experience is suitable for absolute beginners to experienced creators.

Materials

All materials will be provided.

Location & Hospitality

The workshop will take place in a Private Dining room at a residential landmark development - Thames City. A complimentary afternoon tea break will take place during the workshop, where you will be offered artisan teas and Japanese sweets.

About your tutor

Elena Shkvarkina is a Nihonga (Japanese style) and ink painter who lives and works in London, UK. She first encountered Nihonga in 2019, where her independent research began. In 2022, her artistic journey reached new heights through remote mentorship from a Nihonga master from Tokyo, Japan.

Beyond private collections, Elena's works grace London exhibitions, showcasing her diverse talents as an artist, gallerist, and curator. Influenced by nature's and humans' mental metamorphoses, her art captures the essence of the destructive and regenerative forces of both. Departing from conventional brushwork, Elena employs a unique technique guided by gravity and movement, echoing elemental events such as weathering, erosion and volcanic eruption.

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About your host

Sonia Shi is a practicing multidisciplinary artist. She is pursuing her MA at the Royal College of Art and earned her BA in Photography from the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London in 2023. Her multidisciplinary practice encompasses painting, photography, and sculpture, skillfully merging traditional Chinese ink and Gongbi painting techniques with Western media.

Shi's artistic philosophy revolves around materiality, where she reinterprets the provocative potentials of everyday objects as her expressive language.

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We look forward to welcoming you to the workshop.

Elena & Sonia