The Japanese Language and Writing

Before in Japan, they had no writing system but when they imported Chinese Scripts they were writing Classical Chinese or Japanese-Chinese hybrid style. Overtime the Japanese and Chinese writing system were the same or similar meanings. These two characters were simplified and became two syllabic scripts that are Hiragana and Katakana, which had the same set of sounds in the language. These consist of a little less than 50 ‘letters’ which are simplified to the Chinese characters.

This is another example of how Hiragana will be.

The Japanese writing language are written in Kanji and hiragana is used mainly for grammatical purposes. When you learn the practical you will notice. The difficult words or rare Kanji, are also written in Hiragana. While Katakana represents the sounds as Hiragana, which represent the new words that are imported from the Western countries and this is also based from the Roman alphabet.

This is the a Japanese script.

 Basically the interesting thing is that the writing is very different from our languages and they show much importance on their own language. The Japanese language had also creation of how they write the alphabet and they had also art in those words. These words show the importance in art for example they made a lot of scripts. The Japanese they had calligraphies that they are also form and artistic writing. The writing will be written by a traditional ink stone and it is also important as how they put thee writing as an alignment, colour of the background and texture from the brush strokes.

There are the Ink stone, brushes and an exampe of how they will creat the writing.

In Malta the Japanese Language and writing is not very popular but some people learn Japanese language and how to write Japanese. We had some scripts as well in Malta and these will be found in Museums, the Chinese garden and some houses they had something similar. The same thing that we had common are the words that are based from the Roman alphabet. Another important thing is that you didn`t see a lot of places that make calligraphy of their own language but they respect their own language and writing.  

Resource:

Tae.k.Learn Japanese. The Japanese Language and writing.(online) Available at.< http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/hiragana>

Manga and Anime

Many people think that Manga and Anime is the same thing but these are different from each other. Basically Anime are the Japanese animated productions and Manga are comics that create Japanese language. Manga is the first style that was developed before Anime, which was in Japan in the late 19^th Century. Then Anime started after Manga in the 1917.

Some people think that Japan “stole” comics from the West but this is not true because Manga started in a very long time. Some of the Manga is true that are taken from the West but a little amount and also because they were influenced or inspired to see how it can be as a Manga story or Anime. The Manga are all drawn and are not exactly stories but are more like novels. You find a lot of comic books that are written in English but the proper comic books are all written in Japanese language. This creation brings a unique medium, which art came from the mind, creativity and the words are made for reality.

This is an example of how Manga will be.

If we look at the other aspect of Anime it covers more serious topics which are typically cartoon. In America cartoons are made more for children and are more entertaining. In Japan, people watch Anime from different ages. There are Anime that centre for kids but there are many Anime that also made for the elder people. The basic genres of Anime are like comedy, romantic, action and much more. The interesting of Anime is that are all made like 3d painted scenes and the characters are drawn. The Anime can be or was influenced by the early Disney characters like Mickey Mouse.

This is an example of how Anime will be.

The Culture in Anime is important truly understanding what is going on. If you watch any of Anime you will probably notice why the characters behave differently and it is also important that characteristics were influenced from their own religion and it is just a part of their own culture aspect.

Manga and Anime in Malta are very popular for those people who like art and their stories. It`s true that elder people watch or read comic books because here in Malta we had a lot of people who interested in Manga and Anime. In Malta we had many comic makers, promoters and comic creators which these make Events. Basically Manga and Anime are very popular , many fans interested in these subjects and also influence many artists or can be inspired from  the movies and the art itself. 

This is a comic book where you can find it in Malta.

This is how the book looks from the inside.

Resource:

Michigan Japanese Animation.2001. What is Anime?(online).Available at. < http://www.umich.edu/~anime/intro.html>

Izawa.E.1995. What are Manga and Anime?(online) Available at. < http://www.mit.edu/~rei/Expl.html>

The Japanes Games

The Japanese have different types of games which are both traditional and digital games. The rules and materials of the traditional games may have changed these days but at least these games still exists and also gave a taste to different countries and you can say in Malta we know some games that are Japanese traditional games.

There are different types of games that are for children such as Origami, Ohajiki, Ayatori that some places call it ‘the string games’, kendama, Beigoma and more. There are the tile games that are ‘sudoku’ and the board games are Go, Renju, shoki that is the Japanese chess and more. There are more traditional games that are word games, card games, role playing game and dice games.

This is for example the origami.

This is the Go board game.

These types of games are not popular a lot because nowadays we have video games. The video games are big in Japan and they had created many different games such as Mega man, death rising and much more.

The video games in Japan began in the 1970`s and the first games that made a hit, are arcade video games; for example space invaders. In Japan there are many companies such as Sega, Namco etc… In the 1980`s Japan became the most dominant country within the global video game industry. In Japan there is a school that was founded in 1986 that specialises on game developments and 3d computer graphics design. They produce different work such as automobile and robotics.

The design itself in Japan is very important and the alignment, colour, are also very important on every game especially these days.

This is the Japanese game called 'Space Invaders' that was played in the 1980`s

This is a modern Japanese game called 'Final Fantasy' that is made on these days.

Some of these Traditional Japanese games in Malta we had, such as Sudoku, Ayatori and more, but the most popular in Malta nowadays they advanced and make them very realistic. There are also Anime games that are making a hit in Malta too, especially who like Manga stories and the characteristics. In Malta we had also Nintendo games that are made from Japan and they are very popular. This Nintendo game is portable and you can play anywhere you want because you can carry it with you. Basically you can say that Japan made a hit in Malta from the creativity and technology work that they made and are going to make because I think that they will make much more technology games.

This is a digital game that is popular in Malta that is the Nintendo.

Resource:

Byford.S.2014.Japanese Video Games.(online) Available at. <http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/20/5522320/final-fight-can-japans-gaming-industry-be-saved>

The Japanese Architecture

The Japanese architecture is very traditional and it is a remarkable aspect of Japanese culture. The architecture itself in Japan has been shaped by natural and artificially imposed factory. This aspect is also an aesthetic sense for Japan. The architecture of the Japanese buildings are very similar to those of the Chinese and therefore some people get confused if it is Japanese or Chinese architecture. In the country of Japan one problem is that of Earthquakes, volcanoes and typhoons, this , means  historic buildings took a thin shape and light enough to allow for quick exit and less injuries. If you see the windows they are also built into thin walls or small openings through walls straight leading to outside. The Japanese architecture is very impressive and amazing because it has an aesthetic value and the design is very interesting.

This is an example how the houses are in Japan.

If you see the Japanese architectural in gardens are very eye-catchy and the more you look, the more you discover the unique, natural design and beauty. So the architecture is very traditional, the building itself is more classic and the typical roofs are prestigious in the country today. For material, they use traditional fire resistant, natural wood and timber. For normal houses sometimes they use straw. The concrete material, they use stone and bricked earth. They also use ceramic roofing tiles and resistant paper.

How in Japan are the roof tops.

Today these architectural buildings are inspired from different countries. In Malta we had something similar but the popular garden in Malta is the Chinese garden. We had some designs of buildings but not a lot. In Malta we had more interior design instead of exterior. Here we had also something similar like ceramic roofing tiles but not exactly the same.

The Japanese were influenced from the Chinese building and this building 

is in Malta at the Chinese garden in St,Lucija

Resource :

Suzuki.H.2007.Creative Japan-Architecture.(online) Available at. < http://www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp/en/creativejapan/architecture/index.html>

Japan My Love. Traditional Japanese- Architecture.(online) Available at. < http://japanmylove.com/traditional-japanese-architecture>

Japanese Art & Design

In the 19^th century the Japanese art were looking also at sculptures, photographs, ceramics, lacquer work and also paperwork. This type of art is very interesting and they wanted to show different types of works on every object.  The prints were also important in their art but it began early in the 18^th century but till the 20^th century but overall they did around 5,500 prints.

If we look at the sculpture it began from the clay figure and they were strongly influenced from the Chinese sculpture. Their influence was not only from the Chinese but also from the Western. The sculptures were made from different local shops and these sculptures were found in front of houses or important buildings. Basically all the sculptures will be made for representing Buddha. You can say that the designs were all made traditional.

This is a sculpture that representing the Buddha

 After World War 2, the sculptors turned away from the figurative and were doing modernity. The inspiration was Western art and the materials and techniques were changing. They were doing new experimental sculptures for example they created optical illusion designs. This type of art and design was spread around Europe and also inspired and influenced from these sculptures. Nowadays the design was very impressive and it is very modern. The modernity itself changes the traditional by using different machinery to create detailed objects.

In Malta we did not see a lot near houses or important buildings but we had in gardens or Japanese restaurants some traditional art and designs. Basically the thing is that we did not see a lot but a little amount of sculptures. The thing is that the small amounts of sculptures that we had are very interesting and inspires many people such as artists and also tourists. Not only design we had in Malta but also photographs and Japanese prints. These are found in Japanese restaurants and also in our houses.

The is a lion statue.

This is were Japanese came influenced from the Chinese.

This photo has been taken in Malta at the Chinese garden, St'Lucija

Resource:

Kodansha International Ltd.The Virtual Museum of Japanese Art- Fine Arts-Sculpture.(Online) Available at < http://web-japan.org/museum/about_sc.html>

Japanese Paintings

Japanese paintings are the oldest and most highly refined as a visual art, which this type of art spreads in a wide selection of genres and styles. Basically the Japanese art began from the ‘Asuka period’ (538-710) which later continued through later periods. The Edo period started in the 16^th Century but it continued till the mid 19^th Century but the ‘Pre-war period’ continued after the ‘Edo period’ in the mid 19^th century till mid 20^th Century to make the art modern and to engage with the world. Then the ‘Post-war period’ continued from 1945 till now. The ‘Post-war period’ was going back to the present art.

If we look at the style of the 19^th Century, Japanese art was very popular around Europe and many artists were influenced and inspired from their art like the Post-Impressionists, Japonisme and more. They had many different styles and the Japanese were interested from different aspects and influences such as Western. The Importance of this period was too widespread to modernize and engage with Europe that characterizes the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration did many interesting art which created different work such as Foreigners in the Drawing room of a Foreign Merchant`s House in Yokohama, The Great wave of Kanagawa and more. Another interesting aspect is that they were creating different paintings such as Mural paintings, Calligraphy, Japanese prints and more.

This is the Great Wave of Kanagawa.

In Malta we were interested in Japanese paintings and we had many artists that got influenced from them. We had also organised Exhibitions and Events regarding Japanese art. In 2006, there was the Japanese art Exhibition hostong, Osaka Art show from the international selection (oasis), which is owned by the Japanese company called ‘Reijnsha’. In this Exhibition they had around 42 artworks and this was held at the Westin Dragunara. 

This is Mr Endo presenting the Japanese paintings

Resource:

Kodansha International Ltd.The Virtual Museum of Japanese Art- Fine Arts-Paintings.(Online) Available at.< http://web-japan.org/museum/about_pa.html>

The essay about 'The Palette - John Borg Manduca'

John Borg Manduca was interested in Art as when he was a student at St.Edward`s College where his participation as a water colourist in the Gainsborough Commonwealth Competition. In this competition he came in the top ten and from there he starts his artistic career. From every painting he was being judged by different poetic and romantic artist. Basically he always paint when he had the mood and he inspired mostly from the French Impressionists, from Turner and most of all from the great Russian marine artist Ivan Aivazovsky.

In the Sixties Manduca had the first experience of looking at the beautiful and inspirational parts of Malta. He was inspired from many paintings and “The Malta Suite” that was published by Editions Electo.  Malta was discovered from different artists such as the British Artist Victor Pasmore, J.MW.Turner, Edward Lear and more. Manduca was also interested from Ian Hamilton Finlay, from the history of ideas and the first two subject titles that he did in the Palette Drawing were ‘Fishing Boat’ and ‘Oil Rigs’. He did several sketches that they were very modern and original. He didn`t used any colours or something but only black colour. The shading was brilliant as how he applied it and how he painted these boats and oil rigs were abstract.

This is a sketch that Manduca did of a boat.

A sketch of an oil rig.

If we look at Manduca`s canvasses were influenced from the Impressionist Movement and there are four particular artists that they were focused to form and build both the grammar and language. They are Cezanne, Monet, Renoir and Pissarro. Manduca seem to have interested from them from his land and seascape compositions, in both painting technique and handling of form and colour. He had another influential work that he was focusing on the neo-classic tradition mostly from transfigured war machines. These drawings were titled ‘Allegory and Metaphor, The Hamilton Finlay Collaboration, Drawings’. These drawings were also seen as a rendered war machines iconography and they were all blessed by Finlay`s verbal magic touches.

A sketch of a transfigured war machine that it is a canon.

Another Fascinating works were the ‘Landscapes of Memory, Sun-Lit Stones and Shadowed Streets’. Manduca`s paint strokes were marvellous and he produce a sensual tonal images that shows an artistic townscapes. He used light colours, faded painting, seen as an abstract and also shows a movement from the brush strokes. I like the fact that he shows a feeling of calm and also shows the different weather on the paintings. These paintings were also shown the interests on the geometric forms and shapes.

A view of a building near the boats.

Another view of a building near the nature.

A view of a church.

The last work that is shown on this book is very interesting and the subject was about ‘Waters of an Island, The Architecture of the Sea and The Dance of the Waves’. Manduca`s work that was about seas are not the subject he view, but he wants to make a personal translation of the vision of his mind`s eye that he creates an abstract compositions that were shown like a textured surfaces and woven colours. The mood was about seas and also from angry storms.

The wave.

A view of some waves and a boat.

Some other waves.

From now on John Borg Manduca did many other works and he says that he is tired but happy, doing other works because he always wanted to create or do something artistic paintings and drawings.