In his work the artist Takafumi Asakura displays an extraordinary ability to combine tradition and modernity. Using only brush and ink, mythical beasts, Shinto gods, elements of nature and calligraphy are brought together with a powerful energy, coalescing into works of deep visceral beauty. Coordinates Pointing to the Origin of Light embodies these elements, bringing forth a Yatagarasu, or three-legged crow - a mythical creature who appeared as a servant of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. The bird is captured mid-flight amongst swirling mist; the seemingly detached elements of its sinuous body forcefully sweeping across the pictorial plane.

As is Asakura's trademark, the negative space is filled with calligraphic text from the Kojiki ('Records of Ancient Matters'); an important 8th century source book for customs, divination and ceremonies of ancient Japan. Sections describe myths and legends. Asakura uses the precision and fluidity of his brush to transcribe sections of the text as the backdrop of Coordinates Pointing to the Origin of Light.

The inscription on the fitted wood storage box reads:

Other works:

Spencer Museum of Art – University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

Minneapolis Institute of Art, USA, accession no. 2013.29.1172, go to:

The Kennedy Theatre,
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA

Okamura Tenmangu Shrine, Yokohama, Japan

Osannomiya Hie Shrine,
Yokohama, Japan

Takaoten Shrine, Hachioji, Japan

Jujusan Asakawa Kotohira Daigongen Shrine, Hachioji,
Japan