Shrine of the Water God (Suijingū)
Hiroshi Senju’s waterfall paintings—almost abstract but still creating the impression of water in motion—have become his signature pieces. Each is a unique evocation of an encounter with nature. The artist sees himself as working in the legacy of Nihonga painters who, beginning in the late nineteenth century, used pigments, materials, and formats associated with traditional Japanese painting to create modern effects.
He has remarked on his creative process: “When I paint . . . I begin by listening carefully. I am trying to discover which way the waterfall wants to flow, what form it is trying to take. I spend time engaged in this silent dialogue, looking at the washi paper before me without painting at all. . . . As I paint, the image in my mind gives way to the real waterfall I am painting, which is now so much stronger that at times the original image slips away.”
He has remarked on his creative process: “When I paint . . . I begin by listening carefully. I am trying to discover which way the waterfall wants to flow, what form it is trying to take. I spend time engaged in this silent dialogue, looking at the washi paper before me without painting at all. . . . As I paint, the image in my mind gives way to the real waterfall I am painting, which is now so much stronger that at times the original image slips away.”
Artwork Details
- 千住博筆 「水神宮｣
- Title: Shrine of the Water God (Suijingū)
- Artist: Hiroshi Senju (Japanese, born 1958)
- Period: Heisei period (1989–2019)
- Date: 2015
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Pair of six-panel folding screens; natural pigments on Japanese mulberry paper
- Dimensions: Each screen: 68 in. × 12 ft. 4 1/2 in. (172.7 × 377.2 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Tagore Foundation International, 2016
- Object Number: 2016.742.1, .2
- Rights and Reproduction: © Hiroshi Senju
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Inoue Yūichi
1966
Unidentified artist
Zhou Wenju
early 20th century
Shinoda Tōkō
1982
Shinoda Tōkō
1984
George Nakashima
1986–87
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.