New York 2014

seal script characters

art 10.5 x 16 inches

scroll 12 x 43

Sky above, Great wind

I drew these sealscript-style characters on a touchscreen then printed them on backed silk. The four-character phrase, tenjō daifū, is famous for having been drawn by the Zen monk Ryōkan Taigu at the request of some children. Although an accomplished calligrapher, Ryōkan did this particular work in a very childish hand. This piece attempts to capture the same sense of childish play.

Printed, hand-drawn characters on silk.

Mounting of silver crackle-painted satin silk, lacquered plastic square finials.