Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156–1868 is now open at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC (21 October 2009–10 January 2010). Of greater relevance to those of us who will miss this exhibition, highlights of the exhibition are now available online at the Met site; and the catalog for the exhibition is also now available for purchase.
There are some undeniable treasures to be seen at this unique event; however, if I have under- stood the annotations correctly, one would have to visit the exhibit at least twice to get the "full" version. For example, according to the MMA site, Honda's "antlered" gusoku is on display through the 29th of this month; but the ni-mai dō of Sakakibara Yasumasa will not be on display until Dec. 8th.
While there is nothing like viewing the items "in the metal", unless one is in close proximity to the Big Apple, the catalog would seem to be the option of choice.
Having now attended the exhibit four times, in an effort to REALLY study the armor, my level of frustration at not knowing which of the pieces are about to change for the second half has grown exponentially. There is a short list of highlights on line, but no one at the info desk at the Met can say which of the pieces on view are among the "approximately 60 pieces" that will be swapped out. No photos are allowed so my hopes of getting enough visual info on the Ii Clan Red armor, or Honda's amazing deer antlered armor, to do a really faithful figure in 90mm have been stymied. I really need to learn to draw. In the meantime, are there detail photos to be had of these iconic suits if armor???
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Michael
Good evening, Michael.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, welcome aboard.
Thanks for the additional insight into this event. For example, I did not know that the Ii armour was an element of this exhibition!
Regarding your dilemma, you are not alone. Fortunately the reference situation has improved dramatically in the last 5-7 years; but that doesn't mean there's an easy fix, especially as most sculptors/designers don't bother to conduct the due diligence required to re-create a historical gusoku in miniature. So we're caught between a rock and a hard place: correct someone else's mistakes; or, sculpt our own figure/s.
If I may, I would direct you to the following folder in my old cyber-home:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/list.asp?webtag=eph2&ctx=131072&cacheTag=x20-58
There is loads of valuable information to be gleaned from the postings, and it includes the Japanese "chapter" of the MedRen bibliography (http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=eph2&msg=35.1).
Hope this helps, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Augie
Hello Augie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the quick response.
This is my first experience posting on a blog and now I understand the benefits of it all.
As a very brief CV, I built models as a kid, was introduced to figures and Phil Sterns when I worked at Polks in 1978, then fell out of the hobby all together until 2005 when I went to the Expo in Boston. There I found that things had really grown since 1978 and I was hooked. As much as I have enjoyed the renaissance of my model building, 25 years in professional performing arts have made me determined to tell stories...hence a real love of figures. I have been fortunate enough to fall in with Greg DiFranco and, as time allows, have been developing my painting skills. I did some sculpting work with Bill Merklein but have fallen back to the less stressful plan of trying to develop only one discipline at a time. So for now, I am content to work on well cast commercial figures.
I am now a professional deigner and decorative artist working primarily with period furniture. This has led me to create a few custom bases, which I enjoyed immensly, and to have big opinions on the subject, upon which I freely expounded in a recent article for HM. (I think I may have put a few noses out of joint.....new guy, and all.)
I was led to your blog by your great article on Sengoku Jidai Kabuto for which I say bravo, not only for the amazing research and work but the wonderful writing.
Why my interest in Samurai? In 1959, at the age of 6, I thought Roy Rogers was the greatest man who'd ever lived. However, a move to our new home in Iwakuni, Japan, and discovering Samurai, put old Roy in the back seat. I have never looked back and feel that I am finally at the point where I'd like to start bringing my passion for Bushi into three dimensions.
I should add that my dad was a USN aviation historian, and a researcher and NIT PICKER of inestimable energy, and I seem to have inherited his desire to "get it right"! So, if I am going to spend the money on really good figures and more importantly take the time, and energy, to breath life into them, I want them historically accurate.
So, I thank you for this list of links which I will now begin to wade (happily) through. Domo domo.
BTW, Hai, honto ni, the amazing suit of armor worn by Ii sama is the first thing one sees when entering the exhibit at the Met. It is a truly amazing site. I am not sure if it is changing this weekend.....too bad, if so, as I would really like to go back and at least sketch the details...what a great figure that would make!
Well, I am certainly long-winded today...and all on only one cuppa. Clearly, this is a subject about which I am passionate!
I am planning to come to the Atlanta Show and hope to meet you there. I just started working on the Pegaso 90mm Azuchi-Momoyama figure and hope to have him done by then.
Best regards from a rainy NYC,
Michael
Good afternoon, Michael.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, thank YOU for your quick response, your most welcome introduction, and your kind remarks. I am still undecided on the net (no pun intended) value of a blog (though I am slowly getting used to its quirks), to the point where I am seriously considering re-opening the EPH forum. If it happens, it will not be until early 2010.
Enough of that. You brought back some fond memories, Michael. I would spend summers with my mother in Queens from 1971-80, and one of my first stops in the city was always Polk's, followed by a quick jaunt up the street to the Compleat Strategist.
Your quarter century absence must have made you feel like Rip Van Winkle! :-) The hobby, for better or worse, has definitely evolved in that time. Unfortunately, as you will hear me rant incessantly, the price of this Faustian transformation appears to have been historicity, ironically at a time when information denied us for so many years is now virtually at our fingertips.
So, I will extend once again a heartfelt WELCOME! There's not many of us left who will persevere until our historical conscience is resting peacefully, and it is always a great pleasure to run into a kindred soul.
WOW!!! That would have been a sight to see. I have researched the Ii gusoku for years now, but I have yet to see any of their Sengoku-vintage gusoku in person.
That is great news indeed! I very much look forward to meeting you. Given your passions, I wish you could have attended this year's show, where there was something of a "samurai-in-miniature" retrospective. Here's a gallery of most of the bushi pieces on display: http://www.atlantafigures.com/09jap.htm.
Until next time, with best regards,
Augie