Detailed List of Retreats

Shibuie - When Beauty Happens Accidentally: Sumie And Raku – Japanese Brush Painting And Ceramics

Teacher: Ingrid Adams, Lungelo Ncebo, Bernard Charikobo and Venessa Muller

Cost: 4 days accommodation + R400 surcharge

Dates: Monday 11 December 2023 - Friday 15 December 2023

ingrid adams lungelo ncebo bernard charikobo venessa muller Shibuie is the ancient Japanese concept of Accidental Beauty in which the artist is just one ingredient in a number of dynamic interacting natural processes, the outcome of which is delightfully unpredictable, but strangely beautiful - not ego-driven or deliberate. Ingrid will teach the classical Japanese brush painting techniques - Sumie - as these are applied to traditional subjects, such as landscape, bamboo and flower studies - as well as contemporary subjects. We will use the genuine, traditional materials: solid pine-soot ink, a hollowed-out slate to liquefy it, a deer-hair bamboo-stemmed brush and absorbent mulberry paper. Tools will be provided. Lungelo will offer the Raku and explore various glazing and firing techniques. Each retreatant will receive a bisque-fired tea bowl to sumie-decorate and glaze. The kiln will be fired up, after which we will watch the magic as the bowls emerge triumphantly from the scorching heat! Bernard will be offering forest walks and introduicng 'forest bathing' introducing 'forest bathing' with traditional Mbira music for healing and harmony. A traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony will be held on the final evening led by Venessa Muller.

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Ingrid Adams qualified as a fashion designer, an art teacher and completed a B.A. Fine Arts with Unisa. She travelled extensively whilst running a successful business in fashion and home textiles. Viewing Sumie and ink painting in China, Japan and Korea, she embarked on a Sumie course with Louis and was instantly smitten. Retiring from business, Ingrid completed a B.A. Fine Arts Honours, and a Masters, with UKZN Pietermaritzburg. Both the research and practical were focused on Sumie. She has now enrolled for a PhD, continuing to employ traditional Sumie processes and nature. She currently paints and teaches Sumie part-time.

Lungelo Ngcebo studied at DUT in the Fine Art department and majored in sculpture and painting. Working as assistant to Hendrik Strobel, he learned everything about ceramics from electric kiln firing, smoke firing and raku firing. He is currently in the process of completing his Post Graduate Certificate at the University of South Africa. His scope of personal work includes mosaic, glazing, figure modelling, woodwork, welding plaster casting and rubber mould and painting.

Bernard Charikobo is a part-time ranger in the Hawaan Forest in Durban where he takes people on guided walks, introducing 'forest bathing' and traditional Mbira music for healing and harmony. His passion is trees and birds. He will be leading the walks over this retreat where one can immerse oneself in nature and find inner serenity.

Venessa Muller worked in Project Management in various sectors for many years. After attending her first retreat with Lisa Firer at the BRC in 2010, she realised that her path needed to change. She left the ‘abnormal’ world in 2013 and served as a volunteer at the BRC for a year in 2014. She is currently a resident staff member and offers midweek meditation and continues her practice on the path.