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EIJI SUMI
Suikinkutsu




Suikinkutsu
Gallery VER 2024

To explore the auditory immersion of water landscapes, Eiji Sumi reinterprets the traditional Japanese suikinkutsu as a contemporary installation aligned with the exhibition’s themes of water, healing, and sensory experience. In a classical suikinkutsu, droplets of water fall into a buried ceramic vessel, producing delicate bell-like echoes that quietly resonate beneath the ground. The sound is subtle and intimate, often discovered unexpectedly by the listener.

Sumi transforms this hidden acoustic device into an autonomous spatial installation. Visible ceramic vessels—made from readymade pieces that reflect the material language of the locality—embrace the irregularity and unpredictability of handmade forms. As water droplets fall, they generate resonant tones that invite attentive listening and contemplation.

Developed in collaboration with sound artist Juan Cuevas, the work integrates organic acoustic resonance with digitally manipulated sound, creating a hybrid auditory environment that deepens the sensory and healing experience of water.