PRESS RELEASE - ASIA WEEK EXHIBITION - March 20 - April 4, 2010

Davenport | Dentan | BachmannEckenstein
Arts of Japan | Three Perspectives

5 East 82nd Street, New York

Opening: March 20 - Noon to 9 pm

Show: March 21 - April 4, 2010, daily 10-6 pm or by appointment

When three dealers join forces to exhibit Japanese art, one might wonder, "what will be the scope of the show." Judging by the title, three disparate views are presented. Quite the contrary, the selections from each actually coalesce to form a pleasing whole.

BachmannEckenstein from Basel, Switzerland, focus on Zenga and Nanga paintings, many of them executed in strongly brushed ink. They also contribute tea wares such as bowls and kogo, or incense containers, some by famous Raku masters.
Carole Davenport of New York City also exhibits teabowls but instead of the diminutive kogo, she exhibits chaire, the small containers for powdered tea. In addition, she adds early and exquisite porcelain, Kutani, Shoki-Imari, Kakiemon, from the era when Japanese porcelain was in its nascent stage, the 17th century.
Included in the mix is a Zen painting by Nantenbo, a late 19th century artist, from B.C. Dentan of San Francisco which illustrates the "sound of one hand" koan.
Both Davenport and Dentan merge tastes with robust medieval storage jars from kilns such as Tokoname and Tanba, and Noh theater masks reflecting serene beauty or demonism.
Calligraphy by Mokuan, an Obaku Zen monk, and Rengetsu, a Buddhist nun, pits a 17th century work of the former having virile brushwork with a 19th century one of the latter quickly rendered in a spidery, delicate style.
Examples of sculpture from as early as the 12th century and beautiful screen paintings round out the exhibition.

The total effect reflects various Japanese tastes, from the strong to delicate, from precise to casual and unaffected, from religious to secular.

Information:
http://www.bachmanneckenstein.com/Newyork/
Japaneseart.82nd@gmail.com

Asia Society Sponsor

Asian Art Dealers New York (AADNY), Japanese Art Dealers Association (JADA)