Sylwia Markis (1973) - Samurai

Sylwia Markis (1973), Samurai, 2018.

Digital print on photo paper, x cm. Lower right with embossing stamp.

Provenance: Private collection/publisher, Berlin.

Condition: Very good. Figures are part of the condition description.

Sylwia Makris and the Samurai Museum Berlin
With her body of work Die 7 Tugenden (The Seven Virtues), Sylwia Makris, in collaboration with the Samurai Museum Berlin and the Peter Janssen Collection, developed an extraordinary photographic project that engages with the seven virtues of Bushidō—the ethical code of the Samurai.

Rather than merely documenting historical scenes, Makris translates the values of Bushidō—such as courage, honor, loyalty, and compassion—into contemporary imagery. Her carefully staged photographs merge historical samurai armors and original artifacts with modern models and a painterly aesthetics. Thus, works are created that place past and present in dialogue.

For the realization, the artist worked closely with the Samurai Museum Berlin and gained access to authentic armors and objects from the renowned Peter Janssen Collection. Through meticulous post-processing as well as the combination of photographic, painterly, and sculptural techniques, she lends the works extraordinary depth and materiality.

The series was presented at the Samurai Museum Berlin and counts among the artist’s most significant projects. Moreover, a motif from the series formed the basis for a large-format wall work on Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm, created in collaboration with the artist Anna Taut and the Samurai Museum, bringing Makris’ imagery into the public space.