Over the years I am becoming increasingly aware of the cycles. How things metamorphoze and shapeshift, constantly slipping the grip which so longs for order and stability. In this lies the trick to it; there is no stability to be had! Becoming water and adapting to the current shape of ones own creative vessel, loosing oneself and stumble upon, thats the key. If now indeed a key is needed to this door that wasn't locked in the first place.
Irezumi is not simply the inserting of ink into skin. The heart is the artist and the gut is the brush. They see Irezumi everywhere and in many shapes. Do not get me wrong. Irezumi is tradition and keeping that close to heart as you proceed is without a doubt of the greatest importance. Without it you're severed head will soon be on display. Still, the very pursuit of this tradition and the adherence to it, opens doors, eyes, hearts, minds and suddenly one finds oneself in places oneself swore not to go. Constantly re-thinking and re-inventing. Taking to heart and throwing away. Belief. Disbelief. Relief.
The further one travels the harder the words come, beyond mere description and straight into the realm of physicality, eyebrow to eyebrow with Tesshu, Ikkyu, Hokusai, Ryokan, Horiyoshi III and the others. Almost at the edge of insanity, so immense are the possibilities. Why struggle against ghosts that are not there?
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