Opening Reception March 5th, 2010

Art Ecology Gallery presents “Meditations” by Miya Ando. “Mediations” is a showing of Miya’s collected works including her ongoing “Luminous Meditations” steel works, “Shizuka” monotypes of liquid graphite on 100% cotton paper , and a Luminescent wall poem in Hiragana calligraphy.  The opening reception will be held at Art Ecology Gallery, March 5th, from 5PM to 9PM. 

Post-minimalist contemporary artist Miya Ando will be showcasing her lumininous steel works in addition to a luminous wall painting which is based on the traditional Japanese art form of grass writing with a new wall  poem“I’m Beautiful Night,” as well as her series of luminous steel works and the shizuka meditation series of works on paper, at her solo show “Mediations” at Art Ecology in Louisville from March 5 to April 3.

Miya has an important connection to Louisville, as she was recently commissioned to create a 40-foot public commission piece in Louisville for The Healing Place, a woman’s shelter and rehabilitation facility. Her piece, which will be completed in April/May 2010 and will be displayed in the shelter’s meditation room, will embody “serenity and transcendence.” Miya is passionate about producing pieces for marginalized groups who may benefit from her introspective-provoking work. To that degree, she will donate a portion of the proceeds from the Art Ecology show’s opening night to The Healing Place to continue their important work for women.

Miya has also created a print to raise money for ovarian cancer. Karla Diehl, the co-owner of Art Ecology, just underwent chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and had a full hysterectomy. Miya was inspired by the strength of Karla, who is only 36-years-old, and decided to create and sell a print and donate the proceeds to ovarian cancer research.

Miya was inspired by Japanese Grass Writing style of calligraphy and  chose to write her wall poem in Hiragana, which was once considered women’s writing.  This is an homage to women in the Heian period of Japan  who wrote novels in hiragana, as they were not allowed to learn to write in Kanji.  These women took to this writing with great skill and passion and its development resulted in an explosion of written expression among Japanese women. In fact, the single most important of all Heian period works is the Genji monogatari (The Tale of Geni), which was written by a woman in Hiragna and is considered by many to be the world’s first written novel.

Now, Miya has revived this glorious style of communication with a luminous wall poem, “I’m Beautiful Night.” The piece is created with invisible, phosphorescent paint which can only be viewed fleetingly in the dark. Its duality reflects the essence of this historic written language- unknown to the naked eye, but visible and vibrant to those who can see it. The words read “Watashi Wa Utukushii Yoru desu,” which can be translated to “I am beautiful, it is night,” or “I’m beautiful night, which also comprise miya’s own name  as the Japanese characters for her name are‘Mi Beautiful’ ‘Ya’ Night.Miya also included falling cherry blossoms and petals around the piece to suggest the transitoriness of life and fleeting nature of all things.

Miya, who is a descendant of samurai-era sword makers, grew up in a Buddhist temple in Japan. She has long treasured her heritage and her curiosity infuses her work. This piece is an homage to this forgotten art form, as well as Miya’s own Japanese ancestry.

And like the women who have come before her, Miya, who at 5-foot-4-inches weighing around 100 pounds, knows a thing or two about being underestimated. Not only is it sometimes difficult physically to pursue her steel artwork (the pieces can be as tall as 40-feet and weigh more than her), but the entire idea of a woman working with torches and corrosives is still seen as unusual. This is especially true to her family back in Japan where steelwork remains a masculine field. But looking at Miya’s breathtakingly serene pieces, any doubt about Miya’s ability is quickly extinguished. She continues to be commissioned for public art pieces and continues to show internationally.

A descendant of samurai-era sword makers-turned Buddhist priests, Miya has continued her family’s tradition in a contemporary way by creating steel works that incorporate themes of meditation. Her use of hybrid metal finishing techniques, which she learned from an apprenticeship with a metalsmith in Japan as well as time spent in auto shops, make her work stand out amongst her peers.

Miya’s interest in luminous works also extends from her newest endeavor into her more traditional steel works. This installation will also feature a series of wall works on 14 gauge mild steel panels titled “Luminous Transcendent.” Using a technique of layering chemical patinas, phosphorescence, and automotive lacquer, Miya will create works that absorb available light sources- and in darkness or dusk can be seen for just an hour or so. These pieces are meant to capture the transitory and fleeting nature of light, and the ways in which it can provide illumination after its departure.