CHAPTER 1 - “Travel Journal of a little artist”

painterstef
Mar 14, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Jul 8, 2024

The artistic journey throughout the Japanese lands finally begins. We will explore them with two different approaches: the storytelling of the Travel Diary and the visual representation of my paintings.

Enjoy the travel! 🎌

FIRST STOP: KAMAKURA - 鎌倉

Walking through the streets of Kamakura and experiencing its touching atmosphere fills me with a deep sense of peace, accompanied by a gentle nostalgia, even before departing from the city.

Kamakura, located in the Kanagawa Prefecture, is a city rich in history and spirituality that retains the atmosphere of an ancient capital. Nestled among green hills and the blue of the Pacific Ocean, the city captures the essence of a place where tradition harmoniously merges with natural beauty.

A must-visit site when exploring Kamakura: the Great Buddha.

I've chosen him as the protagonist for the first chapter of the travel diary and the first painting.

KAMAKURA DAIBUTSU - 鎌倉大仏

(The Great Buddha)

It’s one of Japan’s most impressive spiritual icons. This majestic bronze statue was erected in 1252 and rises to an imposing height of over 11 meters, depicting Amida Buddha. Associated with Pure Land Buddhism, the figure has a serene expression and sits in the lotus position: legs crossed with feet pointing upward. Hands rest in the lap, with the index fingertips delicately touching the thumbs, forming a circle and symbolizing meditation.

What makes the Great Buddha even more extraordinary is its historical fate: in 1498, after an earthquake, a devastating tsunami destroyed a significant portion of the temple that housed the statue, which, remarkably, remained intact.

Since then, the Buddha has been left outdoors, contemplating the natural beauty offered by the city of Kamakura.

Its story has contributed to creating a unique atmosphere around the Daibutsu.

THE PAINTING

To depict it, I chose to reproduce a Japanese print by the artist Kawase Hasui.

This artwork has been the most challenging one so far, demanding three months of dedicated effort. I couldn't be more satisfied and proud of the result and the hard work I invested in it.

80x60cm - acrylic on canvas

How did I feel in front of the Buddha?

Contemplating the Daibutsu at Kōtoku-in Temple that day was deeply moving. It conveyed to me a profound sense of reassurance and, above all, the determination to nurture more my inner calm and peace, where I often falter. Moreover, even though the Buddha’s history related to the earthquake might seem distant from everyday life, thinking about it in my own small world made me reflect on the challenges life always brings: I realized the need to be stronger and more resilient in the face of tough moments and difficulties, to embrace the present moment—accepting life’s transformations with serenity.