Collection Online as of March 29, 2023

Reserving the Mundane Life

1979

Aoyama Sanu 青山杉雨

(Japanese, 1912–1993)

Japan, Shōwa period

(1926-89)

Ink on paper

Image: 43 x 68.5 cm (16 15/16 x 26 15/16 in.); Framed: 57 x 83 cm (22 7/16 x 32 11/16 in.)

Gift of Aoyama Keiji 2011.16

Location

not on view

Description

The calligrapher Aoyama Sanu was decorated as a Bunkakorosha (Person of Cultural Merit) in 1988 and was presented the Bunka Kunsho (Order of Culture) in 1992. Read from right to left, the two characters here translate to "reserving dust." Aoyama reflected upon the preciousness of everyday life by reserving the mundane life.

Citations

Cleveland Museum of Art, and Sŏn Sŭng-hye. The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2011. Mentioned: P. 97; reproduced: P. 95, no. 96

Exhibition history

Cleveland Museum of Art, (3/27-8/28/11); "The Lure of Painted Poetry" cat. no. 96

The Lure of Painted Poetry: Cross-cultural Text and Image in Korean and Japanese Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (April 15-August 21, 2011).