Exhibition

Japan Contemporaries Series 11 | Juried Open Call

The Art of Sho

Curated by Motoichi Adachi and Kyoko Sato
Organized by Art Incubation Association of Japan

November 5 to 12, 2024
Opening reception: November 7 (Thu) 7 - 9 pm

Artists:
[First Runner-Up] Koho KURIHARA | KURIHARA GOYOU | Seiho Kurihara | YUMI AKIYAMA
[Second Runner-Up] AKANE KIMURA | ASAKO YAMAKAWA | Calligrapher Shiryu | KEISHIN AKAZAWA | Laisai | Maya Ito | Shuuka | SOGETSU | SOUSYU MATSUMOTO | YUKEI
[Honorable Mention] GENRYUIN | KOTORA | MICOTO | Miracle Mico | Yamato
[Guests | NY Front Runners ] Jim Joe | Michael Lam | Richard Ford III | Seongmin Ahn | Shelter Serra | Vincent Chong

The new series exhibition "Art of Sho" is the 11th installment of a series of exhibitions organized by Emmy Award-winning TV writer Motoichi Adachi and New York-based curator Kyoko Sato, known for introducing Japanese culture. The exhibition focuses on the theme of "Sho" (Japanese calligraphy) and features works by artists selected through an open call and review process. This series highlights interesting works by artists mainly active in Japan, regardless of genre or background, introducing them to the cutting-edge global art scene. It also includes guest exhibitions by leading figures based in New York who are active worldwide, facilitating effective exchanges and mutual inspiration.

The exhibition series has continued since last year with "Stepping Into A World IV" (Series 10, Gallery Max, New York, featuring 34 Japanese artists), as well as the more casual "Japan Contemporaries" (Series 12, Gallery 60NYC, featuring 6 Japanese artists and concurrently hosting the "Well-Being Exhibition" to support underprivileged children in Southeast Asia), and "100 Artists of the World" (Series 13, showcasing 14 artists on the large screen in Times Square, 3 Times Square). Together, these four projects will create a wave of Japanese art in New York this fall.

In this series, up until the 9th installment in July 2024, we have already introduced 124 Japanese artists. Furthermore, over 9 of these artists have since been represented by galleries in New York. This autumn, we plan to introduce an additional 64 artists, bringing many more outstanding Japanese artists into the New York art scene.

***

"I approach the art world with the same mindset that I've used for many years in the Japanese TV industry. I want to bring a fresh breeze of free-spirited ideas into a world that values long-standing traditions. Even if someone didn't graduate from a famous art school or isn't backed by a powerful gallery, a beautiful work is beautiful, and an interesting piece is interesting. I want to see captivating artists make a bold impact on the world stage. This time, I'm taking on that unconventional challenge." - Motoichi Adachi

***

In 2021, the Agency for Cultural Affairs registered "Shodo" (Japanese calligraphy) as an Intangible Cultural Property. However, a survey conducted by the Agency in 2020 revealed that, due to changes in lifestyle, opportunities for Japanese people to write characters with a brush have become extremely rare, as have opportunities to appreciate calligraphy.

Shodo is the art of writing characters, primarily using a brush and ink, usually on paper. It is said that kanji characters were introduced to Japan from China in the 5th century, along with the study of calligraphy techniques. While it is necessary to preserve and pass down this art and skill steeped in history, it is interesting to note that new styles have been developed to suit the times.

From the Muromachi period onward, the tea ceremony gained prominence, and calligraphy scrolls, known as "bokuseki" (ink traces) written by Zen monks, began to be used at tea gatherings. Additionally, in the Heian period around 900 AD, hiragana was created, and by the mid-Heian period, a uniquely Japanese calligraphy style known as "wayo" emerged. During this period, waka poetry flourished, and kana calligraphy techniques such as "chirashi-gaki" (scattered writing) and "renmen" (continuous writing) were developed.

During the Edo period, when Japan was largely isolated from the world, the country's unique culture flourished, and new forms of calligraphy emerged. In the early Edo period, the "Three Calligraphy Masters of the Kan'ei Era" - Konoe Nobutada, Hon'ami Koetsu, and Shokado Shojo - made significant contributions. In the mid-Edo period, well-known figures like Mori Yuzan, Konoe Iehiro, Kato Chikage, and Ike no Taiga appeared. In the modern era, influenced by Western ideas, museums and galleries were established, and calligraphy began to be exhibited in such venues. Calligraphy associations formed by calligraphers became central to preserving traditional Shodo today.

Because Shodo is a cultural form with a rich tradition that has been accumulated and passed down, the government recognized its value by registering it as an Intangible Cultural Property. Looking back at history, we see that innovative expressions have emerged over time, so I'd like to reflect on what "Sho" might look like in our current era. At the New York "The Art of Sho" exhibition, we will showcase works that freely express calligraphy as a culture that resonates with our modern society, which is shaped by cutting-edge technologies like AI and the global context, while honoring the traditional "wayo" style unique to Japan.

The exhibition will feature the work of Keishin Akazawa, who was awarded second runner-up in the open call and created the title calligraphy for the film Hakkenden starring Koji Yakusho, set to be released in October 2024. Broadly speaking, calligraphy can be interpreted as the artistic expression of words and characters. From a Western perspective, particularly in the context of American art, graffiti could be seen as a Western form of calligraphy. With that in mind, artists active in New York will also present their innovative "Sho" works.
- Kyoko Sato