Katharine Buljan
From Myths to Beliefs (Japanese Spirituality)
World spiritualities, religions and mythologies are the themes that have been present in Katharine’s art
practice since its inception. These themes are also present in her recent series of paintings; this time they
have been inspired to a great extent by her theoretical research into Shinto, a Japanese native religion.
Katharine did this research for the book she co-authored, titled Anime, Religion and Spirituality: Profane
and Sacred Worlds in Contemporary Japan (Equinox, 2015).
Her recent paintings mostly focus on stories from Shinto’s oldest texts, Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters)
and Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan), both dating from the 8th century. This series attempts to
reflect on the richness of Japanese spirituality and its emphasis on the intertwining and closeness of the
real and supernatural realms.
Dreamland Magic I
This has been inspired by Japan’s longstanding belief in the importance of dream symbolism and its
relation to decision-making and future of the sleeper. This belief dates back to Jomon period (about
100,000 BC – 300 BC) when it was believed that dreams where indeed controlled by spirits. Kojiki, one of
Shinto’s oldest texts records that Emperor Sujin (148 BC- 29 BC) made many important decisions based
on interpretation of his dreams.
Dreamland Magic II
This work belongs to the series that have been inspired by Katharine’s theoretical research into Shinto, a
Japanese native religion, and its stories from Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and Nihon Shoki (The
Chronicles of Japan), both dating from 8th century. This theoretical research Katharine did for the book on
Japanese animation, which she co-authored with Professor Carole M. Cusack (the University of Sydney).
The book is published in 2015 by Equinox, an academic publisher based in UK. Its title is Anime, Religion
and Spirituality: Profane and Sacred Worlds in Contemporary Japan.
Shirayuki, the Holy Horse and the Moment of Purification was inspired by old Japanese belief that if one
sees a horse near Shinto’s temple will be purified of all sins. According to Shinto’s belief, a horse is a
messenger between kami (divine beings) and humans. In 2013 this work was selected as a finalist for the
62nd Blake Prize for Religious Art.
About the work Spiritual Aura of Miko
This work belongs to the series that have been inspired by Katharine’s theoretical research into Shinto, a
Japanese native religion, and its stories from Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and Nihon Shoki (The
Chronicles of Japan), both dating from 8th century. This theoretical research Katharine did for the book on
Japanese animation, which she co-authored with Professor Carole M. Cusack (the University of Sydney).
The book is published in 2015 by Equinox, an academic publisher based in UK. Its title is Anime, Religion
and Spirituality: Profane and Sacred Worlds in Contemporary Japan.
Spiritual Aura of Miko has been inspired by miko’s (Shinto’s priestess) sacred dance called kagura. In
ancient times mikos were believed to be female-shamans who had the ability to communicate with kami
(divine beings or gods) and spirit world through kagura dance.
Stanley Street Gallery, 1/52-54 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010 & ABN 97 157 835 624 Tel: +612 9368 1142
email: mail@stanleystreetgallery.com.au web: www.stanleystreetgallery.com.au
Katharine Buljan
Katharine Buljan is a Sydney-based artist and scholar. She has exhibited her work in Australia, Italy,
Hong Kong and Sweden. Katharine was selected to be an Artist in Residence (scheduled for 2015) at the
University of Tasmania. In2013, she was selected as a finalist for the 62nd Blake Prize for Religious Art.
In 1995, Katharine was awarded a European Parchment at the XV Review of Contemporary Art in
Galleria Forum Interart in Rome. Other art prizes she has won include first place in the foreign artists
section at the II International Festival of Contemporary Painting in Sanremo (1994), and Plaque
“Colosseum” (1993) – a prestigious Italian national art prize.
Her work is in public collections in Australia and Italy and in private collections in Switzerland, Australia,
Italy and Finland.
Katharine was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney in 2007 and has completed a Master of
Animation at the University of Technology, Sydney (2008) and a Master of Arts (Honours) at the
University of Western Sydney, Nepean in 1998.
In 1993, she majored in painting (a four-year course) at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome. Katharine
has lectured at the University of Technology, Sydney, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School
and the University of Sydney.
She is the co-author of the book on Japanese animation titled Anime, Religion and Spirituality: Profane
and Sacred Worlds in Contemporary Japan (Equinox, 2015). Katharine is a co-founder of Studio Buljan,
an animation studio based in Sydney.
Stanley Street Gallery, 1/52-54 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010 & ABN 97 157 835 624 Tel: +612 9368 1142
email: mail@stanleystreetgallery.com.au web: www.stanleystreetgallery.com.au