LIFE & CULTURE ALLAN WEST Born in Washington, D.C. While a high school student, West believed he pioneered the use of animal glues mixed with natural pigments, unaware that these “I was shocked to learn that are the same materials used in the nihonga technique. He studied art at Carnegie Mellon University’s what I thought was my own College of Fine Arts in the United States. West settled technique of using animal glue in Japan after several visits, entering the Graduate School of Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts in has in fact been used in Japan for 1989. A decade later, he opened Art Sanctuary Allan a very long time,” says Allan West. West, a studio-cum-gallery, in Yanaka, Tokyo. The majority of his artwork is commissioned work From an early age, West loved consisting of plant and flower paintings on hanging to capture scenes of nature, and scrolls, folding screens, and fans. He also serves as a trustee at The Yurabi Institute for the Study and aspired to be a painter. However, Preservation of Japan’s Cultural Heritage. he found it difficult to portray the delicate lines of plants and flowers using oils, so he sought to make his about. There, he was impressed that part of Tokyo, packed full own pigments and canvases from with his introduction to nihonga of well-known stores specializing rabbit-protein glue and marble. (traditional Japanese painting). in nihonga materials. This After graduating from high school, He found the deer-protein glue fascination led him to renovate West entered Carnegie Mellon used in nihonga to be far less an old auto body garage so that University, one of the leading odorous and cloudy than the he could open his own Japanese- art colleges in the United States. rabbit glue he had previously used. style studio-cum-gallery in the There, he turned his back on the West was also impressed with the neighborhood. Stepping inside, traditional thick brushstrokes countless colors of the natural the visitor is transported into a of oil painting mainly taught mineral pigments made from magical world full of art painted in American colleges, instead powdered rock, as well as with the with gold, silver, and copper leaf, showing his individualistic spirit brushes that allow for more open as well as containers filled with by experimenting with other and expressive lines. Pleasant to finely powdered natural mineral materials in his depiction of work with, these organic materials pigments. It’s not unusual for nature. capture the beauty of nature and neighbors to stop by for a glance One day, seeing West’s artwork leave a lasting clear vibrancy for of his artwork, which offers them Allan West paints on the flat surface oftatami mats to stop the thinner natural mineral pigments from running. at an exhibition, a woman more than a thousand years. After a distinct sense of the changing happened to mention that similar graduating from university in the seasons. techniques could be found in United States, West returned to In recent years, West, along Japanese painting. Wanting Japan and entered the Graduate with followers of traditional DRAWING to find out more about those School of Japanese Painting at performing arts such as Kabuki methods, West took a hiatus Tokyo University of the Arts. and Noh, has been focusing his NATURAL BEAUTY from his studies and headed to It was there, under the tutelage attention on conveying the allure JAPAN WITH TRADITIONAL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Japan, a country he knew nothing of KAYAMA Matazo, that he of Japanese culture through learned the techniques of nihonga exhibitions and performances in depth. overseas. “Japanese culture carries Not far from Tokyo University with it a wisdom that cherishes JAPANESE of the Arts is Yanaka, a temple the beauty of nature, a harmony neighborhood of Tokyo from the with nature that is preserved in a Edo period (1603-1867) with sustainable way. It is that wisdom many old Japanese buildings still that I’d like to convey through my PIGMENTS standing. West was fascinated by art,” remarks West softly. With such an artist capturing the beauty Expressing the beauty and essence of the natural seasons, Pigments are made from of nature unfettered by national natural minerals such as lapis boundaries in this traditional an American artist turned his back on the Western lazuli and malachite. Addition- style of painting to learn about traditional ally, glue, which is hardened Top: Inside the Allan West studio-cum-gallery, the painting style, the potential of into a stick for longer storage, traditional latticed ceiling of which West has adorned nihonga will further resonate Japanese painting techniques and materials. and gold leaf are used. with dragons, plants, and flowers. Right: West opened his studio gallery after renovating an around the world. auto body garage in the downtown area of Yanaka, full of Buddhist temples and old houses.