Hidden Beauty: Yugen in Tea, Noh, and Contemporary Washi Art: Japan House 10th Anniversary Celebration October 25, 2008

The Japanese word kokoro can be translated as “mind, spirit, and heart.” These characteristics have blossomed in thousands of visitors at the U of I’s Japan House, celebrating 10 years in its beautiful facility at the University Arboretum. This gala event will explore one of the key aesthetic ideals of Japanese traditional arts through three very different artforms: Tea Ceremony, Noh theatre, and contemporary washi (Japanese paper) artwork by Kyoko Ibe.

The aesthetic ideal of yugen represents an ambience of mystery, grace, depth, elegance, and subtlety that was pervasive in Japanese art from the twelfth through the fifteenth centuries and persists today. Yugen is a word used to describe the profound, remote, and mysterious, those things that cannot easily be expressed in words but reveal spiritual strength and grace.

Kimiko Gunji, director of Japan House and an associate professor in the School of Art and Design, is certified in Tea Ceremony by the Urasenke Tea School and has taught tea ceremony for 30 years; she will present a tea ceremony dedicated to peace, amidst visual artist Kyoko Ibe’s washi artwork.

Shozo Sato, professor emeritus of art and design, returns to campus to introduce the Noh performances. Noh is the last of Japan’s triumvirate of exceptional theatre arts, including Kabuki and Bunraku, to finally appear on the Center’s stage. Japanese actors, trained under the master actor-teacher Akira Matsui in the Kita school traditions, will present both dramatic and dance Noh performances, while artist Ibe enhances the stage with a large-scale installation of her exquisite work.
Ibe’s works will be featured in the exhibition “The World of Yugen: Japanese Paper Artworks by Kyoko Ibe” at the Krannert Art Museum, August 29 through January 4.

Official Website: http://www.krannertcenter.com/performances/details.asp?elementID=22884