Sumi-e is an ancient pictorial and calligraphic technique from China that was introduced in Japan thanks to Zen monks in the XIV century. Sumi-e painters try to represent the truth of things in few strokes.
I begun to experiment with this technique in 2017 and I have developed my own style. This is because of living in Europe and having a complete different art background in comparison to traditional painters. Working with transportable size Japanese gampi papers, Indian ink and in a meditative state of mind, I can work in nature without leaving any mark or modifying it. I only touch the landscape with the sight. These are issues that worried me much as a land artist. This technique allows me to reduce everything to the essence of things. Simplicity and honesty of the artistic action and creation are relevant virtues I want to put them into my work.
My paintings where hosted and presented in public for the first time at Centre de la Cultura de l’Oli de Catalunya in October, 2020. Here, I present some of my landscapes. Somehow, being surrounded by nature after meditation enables me to catch the essence of the world like a haiku poet.
I have painted already more than a hundred small format works.
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Jordi González Castelló 