日本の書の世界へようこそ

書道は瞬間をとらえる芸術であり、書かれた文字の意味と線質等を左右する筆捌き、濃淡の両方に反映された感情でもあります。書道は、一度紙から筆を離してしまうと滲みや湿度などの天候によって二度と同じものはできません。形が似ていても、決して同じ物にはならないという点でとても独自性のあるものです。筆が紙から一旦離されると、墨汁を再び上から足すことはできず、書道家の感情、筆圧、筆を運ぶ速度といったその捉えられたその瞬間は終わり作品となります。

Calligraphy is an art that captures a moment - a feeling reflected both in the meaning of the written characters and the movement and application of the ink itself. Calligraphy is unique in that there are no second chances on any individual piece, works cannot be revisited. Once the brush is removed from paper ink cannot be reapplied and this moment, captured by the strokes of the calligrapher, is over.

 
As a medium, calligraphy offers artists multiple tools to convey emotion and meaning. The variations of the ink’s tone and visual depth reflect the speed and pressure of the artists application, drawing the viewer’s eye across the piece just as the calligrapher drew their brush across the paper. The juxtaposition between the artist’s strokes and negative spaces on the pieces serve as reminders that sometimes, what is not said is just as important as what is. Finally, the significance and careful selection of a piece’s Kanji characters (the written, ancient Chinese characters) themselves offers the most obvious means to convey meaning. Writers can choose to reflect or contrast the energy and individualized message of a character in their energy and approach to the ink application process. A writer can make a work conflict or coalesce with it’s character’s significance - either seeking to capture and evoque or contrast the character’s meaning.

Calligraphy, just like the Kanji characters used in both the medium and everyday Japanese writing, originated in China. As calligraphy spread through Japan, it began to develop into new styles unique to Japan. Kinndai Shibunn (近代詩文) is one such style, and is a combination of traditional Chinese Kanji characters and Japanese Hiragana or Katakana.  My teacher, Hokumei Nakano (中野北溟), is recognized as one of the great masters of this style. It is said that he started and innovated Kinndai Shibunn style and elevated it into a form of high art. I am lucky to be his pupil.
 
  Calligraphy is steeped in tradition and as such, Calligraphers are typically bound to traditional application processes and mediums