Nature/Natural

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Nature/Natural
Nature/Natural
Kris Ercums, curator
Gallery 408, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

人生到處知何似
應似飛鴻踏雪泥
To what can our life on earth be likened?
To a flock of geese,
Alighting on the snow,
Sometimes leaving a trace of their passage.
Su Shi 蘇軾 (1037–1101)
One pervasive characteristic of East Asian art is its enduring pursuit to illuminate the relationship between natural phenomena—such as the connection between humans and the landscape, the change of seasons, or even the cracks in an old bowl—and an abstract concept of Nature. As in English, “Nature” in its broadest sense holds a rich spectrum of meaning in Chinese, encompassing many separate concepts and words.

However, it was in the concept of ziran 自然 (literally “being so of itself” or “spontaneity”) that Chinese thinkers explored the questions of the universe through the expression of the natural world found in poetry and painting. Artists looked at the landscape, found insight into the universe, and took up brush and ink as an attempt to convey this understanding. The 5th-century poem “Quaffing Wine” by Tao Yuanming 陶淵明 (365–427) speaks of the “authentic intent” or “timeless, unmoving conception” that nature reveals:

A timeless, unmoving conception lies hidden in these phenomena, but just as one seeks to express it, the words are already forgotten.

Rather than a background for human action, Nature is an integrated concept that includes humans as part of a seamless continuum.

Encountering these concepts, Korean and Japanese artists appropriated, imbued, and even departed from this view of the natural world, adding their own cultural perspectives. In the Korean Peninsula, shamanic traditions, a rich visual culture of Buddhism, and an austere Confucian simplicity were synchronized in new ways that expressed an abiding delight in the natural world. And in Japan, ideas from continental Asia merged with local animistic beliefs that emphasize balance between nature and humans. Through poetry and painting, the changing, yearly cycle of seasons became a predominate theme in Japanese art, embodied in this 9th-century poem:

The hue of the cherry
fades too quickly from sight
all for nothing
this body of mine grows old—
spring rain ceaselessly falling.
Ono no Komachi 小野小町 (c. 825–c. 900)

Exhibition images

Works of art

covered box with dragon
early 1570s, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
covered box
circa 1750, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
ruyi sceptre
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
landscape
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
brush washer
late 1700s–early 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
bowl
late 1600s, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
bowl
mid 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), mark and reign of Daoguang (1821–1850)
dish
late 1100s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
oil bottle with floral motif
after mid 1100s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
bowl
Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
covered box
1200s–1300s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
maebyeong vase
800s, Silla dynasty (57 BCE–CE 935)
tea bowl
1500s, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
vase
1200s–1300s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
vase with lotus flowers
late 1200s–1300s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
Miyagawa Kōzan (1842–1916), bowl with chrysanthemums
late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
藥師佛 Yaoshi fo (Medicine Buddha)
late 1500s–early 1600s, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Suzuki Harunobu (circa 1725–1770), Katsuragi playing shakuhachi
1770, Edo period (1600–1868)
Suzuki Harunobu (circa 1725–1770), Nanaginu with mirror
1770, Edo period (1600–1868)
Suzuki Harunobu (circa 1725–1770), Karaginu with a hand puppet
1770, Edo period (1600–1868)
Suzuki Harunobu (circa 1725–1770), Ayasato smoking a pipe
1770, Edo period (1600–1868)
kushi (comb) with butterflies
Edo period (1600–1868)
kushi (comb) with turtle
Edo period (1600–1868)
bira kanzashi (dangling hairpin)
Edo period (1600–1868)
bira kanzashi (dangling hairpin)
Edo period (1600–1868)
hairpin (kanzashi) with turtle
Edo period (1600–1868)
hairpin (kanzashi) with flower
Edo period (1600–1868)
Shima Seien (1893–1970), Spring Pony Dance (harukoma)
Shima Seien (1893–1970)
circa 1930
Okuhara Seiko (1837–1913), Landscape
1901, Meiji period (1868–1912)
乙華發 Ikka Hatsu; 独湛性瑩 Ōbaku Dokutan, Dokutan Shōkei (1628–1706), Lotus Flower Hall signboard
1704, Edo period (1600–1868)
Namikawa Sōsuke (1847–1910), vase with crane
1890–1915
hat stand
mid-late 1700s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
hat stand
mid-late 1700s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
bowl
Guangxu period (1874–1908), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Kinkōzan workshop, small covered cosmetic dish
Kinkōzan workshop
circa 1910, Meiji period (1868–1912)
tripod censer
1200s, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
Iwamura Sadao (1912–1944), cabinet
Iwamura Sadao (1912–1944)
1936
Guanyin
Northern Qi dynasty (550–577)
conical bowl
1500s, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
tetsubin 鉄瓶 (kettle)
late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1910)
chaire 茶入 (tea caddy with lid)
late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Rongqing (active late 1800s), teapot
Rongqing (active late 1800s)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Shichibei (circa 1840–1860), pedestal bowl
Shichibei (circa 1840–1860)
Edo period (1600–1868)
water jar
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
水指 mizusashi (lidded water container)
circa 1750, Edo period (1600–1868)
Winged Eros figurine
circa 200 BCE–150 CE
Buddha and Disciples
circa 200s CE, Kushan dynasty
Bactrian camel (tomb figure)
800s, Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
Amitābha (阿弥陀仏 Amida butsu; 阿弥陀如来 Amida nyorai)
circa 1400s, Muromachi period (1338–1573)
Seisai (active 1937–1978); Shōō Sōsa (1818–1860), 松香合 matsu kōgō (pine incense container)
Seisai (active 1937–1978); Shōō Sōsa (1818–1860)
1890 or 1950
茶碗 chawan (tea bowl)
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
small bowl
1100s–1300s, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)–Yüan dynasty (1279–1368)
seated Buddha in padmasana (lotus position)
circa 800s, Tang Dynasty (618–907)
bianhu (pilgrimage flask) with dancing monkey
600–700s, early Tang dynasty (618 CE–907 CE)
wedding robe with butterflies
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
octagonal box with nested dishes
Edo period (1600–1868)
Yi Fujiu (1698–after 1747), Landscape
1753, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Ike no Taiga (1723–1776), Landscape with Mt. Fuji
circa 1750, Edo period (1600–1868)
Uragami Gyokudō (1745–1820), Heaven is Eternal, the Way Distant
Uragami Gyokudō (1745–1820)
circa 1810–1820, Edo period (1600–1868)
Nakayama Kōyō (1717–1780), Living by a Secluded Cliff
Nakayama Kōyō (1717–1780)
mid 1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Jun Kaneko (born 1942), untitled (Dango 89-5-10)
Jun Kaneko (born 1942)
1989
equestrian warrior roof finial
1600s, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Shunkōsai Hokushū (active circa 1802–1832), Onoe Kikugoro III as Ghost of Oiwa
1826, 1st month, Edo period (1600–1868)
Shunbaisai Hokuei (active circa 1824–1837), Iemon Nyōbō Oiwa (Lantern Ghost of Oiwa)
circa 1831, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), #49 Lantern Ghost of Oiwa (Hebiyama; Snake Mountain)
circa 1845–1847, Edo period (1600–1868)
Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki
1892, 10th month, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Gekko (active late 1700s to early 1800s), Oiwa (The Lantern Ghost)
Gekko (active late 1700s to early 1800s)
early 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Matsumoto Masao (1900–1964), Reflecting Woman
Matsumoto Masao (1900–1964)
circa 1920s, Taisho period (1912–1926)
迦諾迦伐蹉 Seated Nahan Ganakgabeolcha (Sanskrit: Kanakavatsa)
late 1600s–early 1700s, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
Hwang Jong-ha (1887–1952), Tiger
Hwang Jong-ha (1887–1952)
circa 1930s
Kanō Tsunenobu (1636–1713), Tiger and Bamboo
late 1600s–early 1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), an ōtsu painting of a rat
1828, Edo period (1600–1868)
Jifei (1616–1671), An Accomplished Spirit
1600s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Suzuki Shōnen (1848–1918), "Not Falling" Daruma Dolls
circa 1910, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Suzuki Shōnen (1848–1918), "Not Falling" Daruma Dolls
circa 1910, Meiji period (1868–1912)
woman's coat
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Fūgai Ekun (1568–1654), Daruma crossing the river
Fūgai Ekun (1568–1654)
late 1500s–early 1600s, Momoyama period (1573–1615) or Edo period (1600–1868)
Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831–1889); Sawamuraya Seikichi, Jigoku dayū (Hell Courtesan)
1874, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Daruma
early 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Daruma
1800s–early 1900s, Edo period (1600–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Ema (votive plaque)
1773, Edo period (1600–1868)
child's furisode (formal kimono)
early 1900s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Hashimoto Kansetsu (1883–1945), Winter Landscape
1911, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Mizuta Chikuho (1883–1958), 秋山飛瀑 (Autumn Mountain and Flying Waterfall)
Mizuta Chikuho (1883–1958)
1914
Komuro Suiun (1874–1945), 萬巌積雪 (Ten Thousand Cliffs and Fallen Snow)
Komuro Suiun (1874–1945)
circa 1920, Taisho period (1912–1926)
Plum Branch
1916, Taisho period (1912–1926)
miniature shrine
late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
bowl with flying cranes
late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
well pulley wheel
late 1800s
large jar
late 1800s–early 1900s
水注 suichū (ewer)
late 1800s, Meiji period, 1868–1912
Nakajima Yūshō (1837–1905), Mice and Eggs
Nakajima Yūshō (1837–1905)
1800s

Events

March 3, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 4, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 10, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 10, 2012
Tour
10:00–11:30AM
Gallery 317 Central Court, Gallery 408
March 11, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 17, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 18, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 24, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 25, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
March 31, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
April 1, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 10, 2012
Talk
10:00–11:00AM
Gallery 408
November 3, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
November 4, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
November 10, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
November 11, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
November 17, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
November 18, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
November 24, 2012
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
November 25, 2012
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
April 12, 2014
Activity
10:30–11:30AM
Gallery 319, Gallery 408
May 3, 2014
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 4, 2014
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 10, 2014
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 11, 2014
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 17, 2014
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 18, 2014
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 24, 2014
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 25, 2014
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408
May 31, 2014
Activity
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 408
June 1, 2014
Activity
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 408