Leaving Marks

Marks in the sand, Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex, Koyasan, Japan.

Now that I am walking again (albeit slowly and a bit wobbly) I’ve been thinking about footprints as marks on the landscape. Where do we put our feet and how do we walk?

Some walkers literally stride through the countryside, their eyes on a summit or distant landmark as a goal to reach or traverse/climb/conquer. Nowadays there are queues on the ascent to Mt Everest. It feels like a sense of the sacred, the majestic awe of such places is being commodified.

When I visited Japan this year, I stayed at Koyasan where I wandered around the Danjo Garan Sacred Temple complex, thinking of all the pilgrims’ feet as they trod the mountain paths to reach this auspicious town.

My eyes were drawn to the patterns on the pathways between the temples. Sand had been laid over black webbing which was itself laid over the ground. Here and there the sand had been worn away leaving wonderfully strange markings.

As I looked at these photo memories, my thoughts returned to my musings about footprints and the marks we leave. It seemed like a fitting time to bring out my printing inks as a way to reconnect with my studio.

Here in my studio was an empty bench, a perfect fit for the large sheet of glass I had kept for just such a printmaking occasion. Was the printing ink still OK? It had been some years since it was last used. I squeezed the tube hesitantly, half expecting the ink to have dried up, but no it was still oily and viscous.

I brought out my little travelling roller, one which has crossed oceans in my backpack. I had exactly the right paper for the occasion, beach grass paper I had made some years ago after a high tide event at my local beach.

I laid it carefully on top of the rolled out ink and used a knitting needle to make lines on the back as a mono-printing experiment. It was fun playing around with making marks, happily sitting down at my bench to conserve my energy, something I am conscious of in this post surgery recovery stage.

While it was not a very strong print, I was happy to activate my inspiration. Here were marks in the sand, connecting beach with Japan and beyond. Put within a little frame it captured for me the essence of that experience with room for further experimental exploration. The stones will wait till next time in the studio. Small marks, small steps…

Rolling out ink for mono-printing on a sheet of glass.

Mono print on handmade beach grass paper