Shinichi Maruyama captures the mix of water and ink with high speed photography in a refreshing, dramatic way. Armed with buckets of ink, water, a large brush and a strobe light (calibrated to a very high speed), the photographer creates graphic swirls of liquids colliding in midair or on white paper. His work is subconsciously influenced by a Japanese sense of beauty found in the concept of “wabi-sabi,” referring to the beauty of imperfection and understated elegance. Additionally, this beauty is also expressed in “ma,” the use of negative space, found in the art of calligraphy as well as in the design a of a traditional Japanese rock garden.
I am, from this day onward, an admirer of Shinichi Maruyama’s work. What a great discovery. I feel refreshed. Thank you.