“Modern Artists’ Calligraphy” stands apart from the calligraphy of traditional calligraphers; within its free expression, unbound by the conventions of the calligraphy world, lies the concentrated essence of the artist’s refined sensibility.
Calligraphy is the art form that offers the shortest path to expressing the human inner world. It reflects unexpected psychological states and historical contexts within the spaces between the characters, and the vitality of calligraphy lies in using the landscape woven by brush, ink, and paper as a space for contemplation.

　 The calligraphy of first-rate artists powerfully captivates the viewer’s heart, transcending mere technical skill, through the fascination of the written words and the writer’s breath conveyed by the handwritten strokes. From calligraphy rich in humanity and style, to self-taught works that refined their style by learning from the masters of old, to free-spirited and unrestrained pieces that showcase exceptional form and painterly brushwork?this exhibition presents the world of “calligraphy” brimming with the individuality of artists who represented modern Japan, including painters, ceramic artists, sculptors, poets, and literary figures, through approximately 60 carefully selected works from the Kahitsukan Collection. We invite you to enjoy the exhibition

Yoshitomo Kajikawa
Director, Kahitsukan ・ Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art

Yoshitomo Kajikawa

For over a thousand years, calligraphy has been an integral part of traditional Japanese culture. Until just a hundred years ago, everything?from official documents and letters to town signs and even the teru teru bozu dolls hung from eaves?was written with a brush. By examining a person’s handwriting, one could infer their social status, occupation, age, personality, and even their ideological leanings.
　 However, with the rapid development of movable type, the diversity of brush-written text was supplanted by the uniform clarity of printed typefaces, and calligraphy became the exclusive domain of a select few?the calligraphers. Furthermore, in recent years, calligraphy classes have been removed from the mandatory curriculum in schools, and with the spread of computers and email, the very act of writing by hand is disappearing from daily life?a trend that is eroding the foundation of our spiritual world.
　 Amid these circumstances, observing the calligraphy of modern Japanese artists allows us to rediscover the value of what has been lost and to recognize the true essence of calligraphy.
Rather than merely pursuing technical mastery, the writer expresses the words they wish to write, following the promptings of their heart. The individuality honed in their respective fields and the passion for creation dwell within the calligraphy, and the writer’s very life is transmitted from brush to paper along the shortest possible path. And woven into a single sheet of paper are the unique rhythms of that person’s thought and the full spectrum of human emotions?joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
Calligraphy reflects unexpected inner thoughts and history in the spaces between the words. The life of calligraphy lies in transforming the landscape woven by brush, ink, inkstone, and paper into a space for contemplation. As the saying goes, “Calligraphy is the person,” the viewer can encounter the artist through the calligraphy. At times, they may be deeply encouraged, find their hearts healed, and be led to reflect on their own way of life.
　 When the characters change, so do the ideas. For modern artists, calligraphy is another facet of their identity; for contemporary people tossed about by the tides of the times, might it not serve as a guide to the concept of the “self”?
As the saying goes, “It is not the person who polishes the ink, but the ink that polishes the person”; within a single, one-of-a-kind calligraphic work, inner aspects that even the artist themselves may not have realized come to light. The artist’s thoughts and philosophy take residence in the brush, ink, and paper, giving birth to calligraphy that is spontaneous and ingenious. Is this not both the daunting aspect and the true delight of calligraphy?
　 The fourteen artists featured in this exhibition understand the rigors of calligraphy and yet enjoy it wholeheartedly. Their works are a distillation of their refined aesthetic sensibilities and philosophies.

( Director, Kahitsukan・Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art )