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The worldview of the wor
Artist: MADARA
“The Way” is not drawn to lead somewhere.
In this work, the path is neither the result of choice nor a route toward success, but a trace that appears only while one is walking.
As Matsuo Bashō observed through his journeys, a path is not something to be completed, but time itself—continuously shifting with each passing day. This work refuses to measure speed or correctness, treating moving forward, pausing, and losing one’s way with equal weight.
The two-panel composition suggests that even when walking the same path, the scenery changes with perspective and time. There are no answers or conclusions presented here—only a quiet space that allows one to look at where they stand now.
“The Way” is not a symbol meant to guide life, but a landscape that affirms the act of living itself.
Behind the Scenes
When I decided to create “The Way,” there was no fixed image of a finished form. On the contrary, I wanted to avoid defining it too clearly. A path, to me, does not appear as the result of a choice; it becomes visible only when one looks back after continuing to walk.
During the process, I worked with two panels at the same time, treating them as a single unit. Rather than completing one before the other, I allowed subtle differences to emerge naturally by working within the same span of time. Whenever the desire to control or refine the lines became too strong, I set the brush aside and returned while that uncertainty still remained.
This work deliberately avoids imposing correctness or beauty. Even when the movement wavered or pauses appeared, they were left untouched. “The Way” was not created to guide the viewer, but to acknowledge the state of being in the midst of walking.
Kanji meaning
“The Way” is not a line drawn toward a destination.
It is neither the result of choice nor a guide toward a correct answer, but something that takes shape only through continuous walking. Its value is not determined by distance or achievement, but by the time that includes hesitation, pause, and uncertainty.
In Japanese culture, “the way” has long referred not to completion or arrival, but to one’s manner of living and stance toward life. As long as one keeps walking, the path remains unfinished, revealing its form only in retrospect. “The Way” is not a means to define the future, but a concept that affirms how one stands in the present.
| item | Content |
|---|---|
| The basis of the work | Wood Campus |
| Material | wood, Japanese paper（Washi） |
| Size | F20 29.7 × 29.7 × 2 cm（11.7 × 11.7 × 0.8 inches） 2 pieces in 1 set |
| Materials used | Sumi-ink |
| Finishing the work | The wooden canvas is primed with gesso, calligraphy paper (washi paper) is pasted on top, and the painting is finished with ink. |
| Regarding domestic and international shipping | ・International shipping available: Ships via FedEx if no designated shipping company is specified. ・Domestic shipping in Japan: Ships via Yamato Transport if no designated shipping company is specified. |
| Packaging at time of shipment | We can also accommodate requests for packaging such as simple packaging and heavy-duty packaging, so please contact us for details. |
| Shipping | Decisions will be made in consultation with the buyer, such as using transportation suitable for art works and taking out insurance. |
| Compensation for works | The artwork will be delivered in the same condition as when it was sold. If you would like to purchase art insurance, we are happy to discuss this. |
| Payment Method | The payment amount is the artwork price plus shipping. Payment can be made by credit card. |
A certificate of authenticity is included.
