Nakajima Hiroyuki

Nakajima Hiroyuki
中嶋宏行
Born (1956-02-17) February 17, 1956 (age 68)
Chiba, Japan
NationalityJapanese
EducationPost-Graduate Degree in Architectonics (Industrial Engineering)
Alma materChiba University
StyleSHO Art
Websitehttp://www.sho-jp.com

Nakajima Hiroyuki (中嶋宏行, born February 17, 1956) is a contemporary Japanese artist and calligrapher from Chiba, Japan. He is best known for his modern interpretation of Japanese calligraphy (shodo) which he calls Sho art, a technique which combines the traditional elements of Japanese calligraphy (shodo) with the movements of tai chi and inspired by the symbols of zen and nature.[1] Nakajima currently has studios in Chiba, Japan and Milan, Italy.[2]

Biography

Nakajima was born in Chiba, Japan. He began his training in shodo at the age of 6 and would continue his studies through his post-graduate years at Chiba University where he received a degree in Achitectonics (Industrial Engineering).[3] While in his twenties, Nakajima began training in tai chi.

By the time Nakajima was in his thirties, he had already started to develop his own style of contemporary Japanese calligraphy, and became a professional artist.[3] Nakajima exhibited his work for the first time in 2000 at a private exhibition in Rome. The pieces selected for this exhibition consisted mostly of Japanese calligraphy that were recognized as abstract art which depicted Japanese characters as their theme.[1]

Shortly after his exhibition in Rome, Nakajima introduced the movements of tai chi into his art, intending to demonstrate the process of creating the art by means of a performance. Most of his performances begin with Nakajima standing in a meditative state over a blank canvas, and then when inspired uses one sharp stroke of the brush to create the abstract form of nature: moon, soil, mountain.[2] Nakajima has explained that the one stroke of a brush is carried out with a single, condensed thought to bring about the forms and lines of a moment in time.[3]

Nakajima has said, "Every work of 'Sho' is created in one continuous motion, and therefore cannot be repeated or re-written. The power of 'Sho' lies in this feature of non-recurrence. Even if you draw the same letter ten times, ten different forms will arise spontaneously."[1]

Since then, Nakajima has held exhibitions and live performances throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. In 2006 he was invited to participate in the 60th Festival d'Avignon in France,[4] and in the 2006 Art Basel Miami Beach Show (the American sister event of Art Basel in Switzerland), where he debuted in the United States.[2] Nakajima currently has studios in Chiba, Japan and in Milan, Italy.

Exhibitions

Year Exhibitions[5]
1997 Gallery Nakazawa – Tokyo (JAPAN)
1999 Gallery Kai – Tokyo (JAPAN)
2000 Sho, Studio Soligo – Roma (ITALY) critic: Atsushi Suwa
2001 Sho, Institut D’Arts Visuels – Orléans (FRANCE) critic: Cristian Parisot-
Lapin Et Halot – Tokyo (JAPAN)
Sho, Galleria Montmartre Des Arts – Paris (FRANCE) critic: Cristian Parisot
2002 Ronald Schmitt tisch – Eberbach (GERMANY)
Sky Gallery, Haneda-Airport – Tokyo (JAPAN)
2003 The International Furniture Fair – Cöln (GERMANY)
Mike Amrta – Tokyo (JAPAN)
Klingspor Museum – Offenbach (GERMANY)
Kreis Museum – Peine (GERMANY)
sho, Galerie Wild – Frankfurt am Main (GERMANY)
2004 Siebold Museum – Würzburg (GERMANY)
2005 The beach Associazione Culturale – Torino (ITALY)
Crèations Japon, Centre d’Etudes Japonaises d’Alsace – Colmar (FRANCE)
2006 Lune, 60° Édition Festival d’Avignon – Avignon (FRANCE)[4]
Mond, Siegburg Stadtmuseum – Siegburg (GERMANY)
Gallery Tact – Tokyo (JAPAN)
2007 Gallery Tact – Tokyo (JAPAN)
2008 Gallery Tact – Tokyo (JAPAN)
2009 Gallery Tact – Tokyo (JAPAN)
2011 Ri-Vivere, Arte Giappone – Milano (ITALY)
2012 Kizuna,Gallery Tact – Tokyo (JAPAN)
Shizen, Galleria Nobili – Milano (ITALY) critic: Matteo Galbiati[6]
2013 Forme de Zen, Galerie F. Mansart – Paris (France)
2014 the form I have never seen, Ikkyo-Ann – Tokyo (Japan)

Performances

Year Performances[5]
2001 Lapin Et Halot – Tokyo (JAPAN)
Prèsence Japonaise, Scene Nazionale – Orléans (FRANCE)
2002 Santa Claus Forest – Rovaniemi (FINLAND)
Ronald Schmitt tisch, Eberbach (GERMANY)
2003 Klingspor Museum – Offenbach (GERMANY)
Kreis Museum – Peine (GERMANY)
2005 the beach- Associazione Culturale- Torino (ITALY)
Crèations Japon, Centre d’Etudes Japonaises d’Alsace – Colmar (FRANCE)
2006 Lune, The 60° Édition Festival d’Avignon – Avignon (FRANCE)[4]
Del Kalligraph der Seele, Siegburg Stadtmuseum – Siegburg (GERMANY)
Ichimura Miami Japan Garden – Miami (U.S.A.)
Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami (U.S.A.)
2009 Leben, Siegburg Stadtmuseum – Siegburg (GERMANY)
Leben, Heiliggeistkirche – Speyer (GERMANY)
Vivere, Arte Giappone – Milano (ITALY)
2010 Luna, La Casa delle culture del mondo – Milano (ITALY)
Vivere, La Triennale di Milano – Milano (ITALY)
2011 Sonne und Monde, Siegburg Stadtmuseum – Siegburg (GERMANY)[7]
Musicalligrapie with Lê Quan Ninh, Fondation Royaumont – Paris (FRANCE)
2012 Gratitude and Heritage, La Rochelle – Tokyo (JAPAN)
Carrousel Du Louvre – Paris (FRANCE)
2013 Water, Takeshigerou – Kyoto (JAPAN)
2018 Japan House - London (ENGLAND)

Media and publications

Year Media & Publications[5]
2000 “ARCHIVIO” (ITALY)
2001 TV “Gendai-Nihongaku-Genron” (JAPAN)
“Republique” (FRANCE)
TV “IL DE FRANCE CENTRE” (FRANCE)
2002 “Lapin Kansa” (FINLAND)
“Eberbach Zeitung” (GERMANY)
2003 “a&a DIE ZEITUNG” (GERMANY)
2004 “KULTUR” (GERMANY)
2005 “DERNIERES NOUVELLES D’ALSACE” (FRANCE)
2006 “LE FIGARO” (FRANCE)[4]
TV “Draw MOON in Provence” (JAPAN)
“GENERAL-ANZEIGER” (GERMANY)
“Rein-Sieg Rundschau” (GERMANY)
“Herald Tribune” (U.S.A.)
“Japan Times” (JAPAN)
2007 “Plexus” (VENEZUELA)
2010 “la Repubblica Tutto Milano” (ITALY)
2011 “Vivi Milano” (ITALY)
“Rein-Sieg Rundschau” (GERMANY)[7]
“Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger” (GERMANY)[8]
2012 “Corriere della Sera” (ITALY)[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Nakajima, Hiroyuki (7 June 2016). Nakajima Hiroyuki: Works 1999- 2015. Koda, Japan: Livre Publishing. ISBN 978-4-86338-144-5.
  2. ^ a b c Laboy, Suzette (17 December 2006). "Calligraphy in the USA". Associated Press.
  3. ^ a b c Yager, Richard. "Japanese artist's 'Sho' unique Art Basel event". No. December 19–25, 2006. Coral Gables News Tribune.
  4. ^ a b c d "Le temps des chansons de gestes". Le Figaro. 11 July 2006.
  5. ^ a b c Nakajima, Hiroyuki. "Profile". Calligrapher, Nakajima Hiroyuki. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  6. ^ a b Fiora, Cinzia (2012). "Non lasciate il re nudo: A meno che non se lo meriti". Corriere della Sera.
  7. ^ a b Staudt, Dorte (2011). "Pechshwarz wie die Sonne: Traditionelle Musik und Kunst Japans in Stadtmuseum". Rein-Sieg Rundschau.
  8. ^ Scmitz, Johannes (17 September 2011). "Ein Kalligraph der Seele". Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger.