Karen Knorr, Monogatari 2012 - 2017

20 avril 2020

Karen Knorr, Monogatari 2012 - 2017

Karen Knorr, The Journey, Hie Torii, Tokyo, 2012, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

A series started in 2012, imagines animal life and Japanese cultural heritage referencing buddhist Jataka tales and Japanese stories.

Photographed in temples, shrines, ryokans and gardens in Kyoto, Nara, Ise and Tokyo, animals and women in traditional kimonos evoke screen art of the Edo period. Knorr, inspired by Japanese art (ukijo-e, screen painting) has produced a series of photographs of Japanese animals which appear in temples and shrines referencing the folktales of the supernatural such as Kaidan and Shinto kami (spirits).

Animals and nature depicted on gorgeous golden screens painted during the Edo period (16th century) by the Kano school of painters are found in castles, temples in Tokyo and Kyoto. Yurei and yokai, ghosts and supernatural monsters appear in Japanese folk tales published in Kibyoshi, genre of picture book, an early form of the comic book and more recently in Pokemon. They may possess animal like features or other times they can appear mostly human or take the shape of an inanimate object.

The red crowned crane which resides in China, Korea and Japan is often featured in myths and legends in Taoism, it is a symbol of longevity and appears often in screens and scroll paintings. More recently it is the emblem of Japanese airlines.

Karen Knorr, Mono No Aware, Shunko-in Temple, Kyoto, 2016, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Path To Enlightenment, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo, 2015, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Journey to the Great Sage Jikko-In Temple, Ohara, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Awakened to Emptiness, Hosen-in Temple, Ohara, 2015, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Guardian of the Temple, Nazen-ji Temple, Kyoto, 2015, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Way of the Path, Ryoan-ji Temple, Kyoto, 2015, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Victory of the Spirit, Sho-ren in Temple, Kyoto, 2015, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Cultivating Happiness, Chishaku-in Temple, Kyoto, 2016, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Cultivating Happiness, Towards Nirvana, Shunko- in Temple, Kyoto, 2016, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Akirame Shunko-in Temple, Kyoto, 2016, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Fukuro, Jikko-in Temple, 0hara, 2016, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, The Landing, Horyuji Temple, Nara, 2015, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Search for Dharma, Obai-in, Kyoto, 2017, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Every Encounter Treasured, Obai-in, Kyoto, 2017, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Once Only, Obai-in, Kyoto, 2017, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Emptiness no Other than Form, Obai-in, Kyoto, 2017, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Karen Knorr, Intoxicated by the Moonlight, Obai-in, Kyoto, 2017, Monogatari 2012 - 2017. © Karen Knorr.

Posté par Alain Truong à 22:22 - Commentaires […] - Permalien [#]

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