About the Exhibition

Quiet unpretentious beauty, the essence of Japanese aesthetic, is also an endearing quality of the American Southwest. Touching Stone Gallery celebrates its 5th anniversary with a special exhibition to explore this aesthetic connection. "Touching Stone - a Journey of the Mind" is a collaboration between photographer Tim Wong and calligrapher Akiko Hirano. It is about an imaginary journey of a Japanese calligrapher who, while grinding ink on an inkstone, mind-travels back in time to a faraway and alien land. The story unfolds in a series of black-and-white images taken by Wong over a span of twelve years in Japan and the Southwest. A shrouded female figure (representing the mind of the calligrapher) roams the landscapes, leading the viewer from a Japanese Zen temple to the ancient Anasazi land of the Southwest. The journey is narrated with Japanese calligraphy pieces based on Japanese and Chinese poems, as well as original prose written by Hirano.

Limited-editions of 35, click on images to view

Inquiry/order: director@touchingstone.com, see Inquiry/Order