%C2%A9 Maki Haku
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper with embossingexpand_more
Gift of Sue Y.S. Kimm and Seymour Gruffermanexpand_more 2019.78.208
Nothing: 無
The subject of this print is the character mu, which stands for nothingness. Maki altered the character by elongating the form vertically and diagonally, enlarging the first diagonal stroke, and adding a white circle with a starburst pattern, at top left, and a small yellow teardrop stroke, at lower right. To viewers familiar with Japanese and Chinese writing, the character is recognizable as mu; Maki encouraged such viewers to not only contemplate how his additions and subtractions might alter the meaning of the legible character but also to focus on the visual form of the character itself.
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
© Maki Haku