Featured Artist Mauricio Perry

Mauricio Perry uses digital art and photography to explore the world of Shodo, the traditional Japanese art of calligraphy. See more of his portfolio on his website.

 

 

In the traditional Japanese art of calligraphy (Shodo), the ideogram conveys not only the meaning of the word or concept and the Zen concepts they are associated with, but also the personality and energy of the Shodo practitioner.

 

 

The aesthetic qualities of the shodo ideograms, usually deep black and grey contrasting over very white paper (washi), carry for me the emotional charge of the purity and restrained simplicity of the lack of color.

 

 

 

To accentuate this simplicity, I deliberately choose not to include the traditional red signature stamp (inkan) of my name. The ability to create a work of art with economy of resources adds to the aesthetic value of the work and challenges me as its creator.

 

 

As a self-taught photographer, my intention is to create a painterly image based on a digital photo.

 

 

Many times, I find a trivial image, an everyday object or scene, to which most people often do not pay attention. However, my “eye” allows me to discover the expressive possibilities of the image with the help of digital tools.

 

 

The results are usually unexpected—contrasts, lines and backgrounds that help define what in Japan used to be called a “floating world.”

 

 

The visual product is the well-balanced result of the selection of the image to be photographed, the choice of the subject within the photo and the manipulation of the foreground and background. Sometimes the result is ambiguous, sometimes it is intriguing but it is always—in my opinion—pleasing to the eye and usually conveys a sense of serenity and inner peace.

 

 

Creating an image for the Shodo series is an exercise in experimentation. I crop (usually to a square format), darken some areas, lighten others, choose the adequate background and decide if the subject will cast a shadow or not. All these apparently inconsequential choices add up to create an image that satisfies my desire for self-expression.

 

 

The end result is an image that has been stripped of any unnecessary elements to convey the essence of the represented object. Once the image is printed, I usually place it in an austere black frame with a white mat to match the feeling of the work.

 

 

In my journey, I have incorporated teachings and ideas from other artists and masters, notably Silvia Brewda, Jack Wild and Simon Foster. I am grateful to many others—some contemporary, some from centuries past—that, knowingly or not, provided inspiration and guidance or both.

 

Artist Mauricio Perry invites you to follow him on Instagram.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Click below to sign up for our twice-monthly email. You’ll get all this plus opportunities and special offers that you can’t get anywhere else!