Kwaadaardige wind, liefdevolle wind 1908

These three little books called 'Kwaadaardige wind, liefdevolle wind' were crafted by Kosugi Tengai sometime between 1865 and 1952. I see these beautiful dark green covers as a kind of stage—each one slightly different, shifting from one another, like a conversation in a room. I wonder what it was like for the artist when they made these? The texture, the colour—it all speaks to me of the artist’s interest in process, how the smallest gesture can speak volumes. That green, it’s almost a whisper, like the artist is trying to create a mood, not just an image. Each element, from the title in gold lettering to the vertical botanical sprig is a brushstroke that adds to the feeling and intention. Ultimately, these covers speak to me about the enduring power of artists to share ideas, inspiring one another across time. They embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing multiple interpretations rather than a single, fixed reading.