KUMANO ISUMI

In the days of the "Bee Pilgrimage" people are eagerly heading to Kumano - this may be because they feel a great sense of spiritual purification and revival of body and soul, not only in a religious sense, but also by being embraced by the great nature of Kumano. This is probably one of the main reasons why Kumano has come to be known as the "home of the Japanese soul".

I was born and raised in Kumano and have lived there for 66 years. As an artist, I have been trying to express the gods and spirituality of this place in every work I make. I repeatedly ask myself what I am seeking and where I am going with the expression of „Kumano". I move my paintbrush while Kumano is scolding me, saying, "We still have a long way to go“.

By Takefumi Shintani

「蜂の熊野詣」と言われた時代、人々はこぞって熊野を目指しました。

宗教的な意味ばかりでなく熊野の大きな自然に抱かれることで、精神の浄化、心身の蘇りを大いに感じたからかもしれません。「日本人の魂のふるさと熊野」と呼ばれるようになった大きな所以ではないでしょうか。

そんな熊野に生まれ育って、はや66年。表現者として熊野の神々や精神性をなんとか一枚の絵で表現できないものかと駄作を重ねてまいりました。

飽きることなくテーマを与えてくれる「熊野」。会がという表現で何を求めどこに向かうのかという自問自答を繰り返しながら。「まだまだ先は長いぞ」と熊野に叱咤され日々絵筆を動かす今日この頃です。

新谷武文