A gallery talk featuring Shiga Museum of Art Director, Mr. Kenjiro Hosaka, Tenraishoin Chairman, Ms. Kazuko Hidai, and Japan Women’s College of Physical Education Professor Emeritus・Nankoku Hidai Researcher Dr. Susumu Takahashi will be held on February 3 from 7 pm.
*Please note, the gallery talk will be in Japanese only.
Event Details
Schedule｜February 3 (Fri), 2023, 7 to 8 pm
Venue｜√K Contemporary
Admission｜Free
Reservations｜Please contact us below with your name, contact details, and the number of attendees.
√K Contemporary (Root K Contemporary)
Tel 03-6280-8808 / Email info@root-k.jp
《 Guest Speakers 》
Kenjiro HOSAKA｜Director, Shiga Museum of Art
Hosaka was curator at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo (MOMAT) from 2000 through 2020 prior to the Shiga Museum of Art (SMoA) where he assumed the position of director on January 1, 2021. He has curated many exhibitions including Double Vision: Contemporary Art from Japan (Moscow Museum of Modern Art and Haifa Museum of Art, 2012), Logical Emotion: Contemporary Art from Japan (Haus Konstruktiv, Zurich, etc., 2014-15), The Voice Between: The Art and Poetry of Yoshimasu Gozo (MOMAT, 2016), The Japanese House: Architecture and Life after 1945 (MAXXI, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts, and MOMAT, 2016？17), and Genius: The Human Gift for Creating and Living (SMoA, 2022).
(Quoted from the AICA Japan website.)
Kazuko HIDAI｜Chairman, Tenraishoin
The eldest daughter to Nankoku Hidai, Tenrai Hidai's second son of Tenrai Hidai, Hidai received her master's degree in philosophy at the Graduate School of Humanities, Gakushuin University. Following graduation, Hidai participated in the editing and compilation of Chukei Fushimi's "Shodo Jiten" (lit. Calligraphy Encyclopedia) (Kadokawa Shoten Publishing). After working for a publishing company, Hidai established Tenraishoin Co., Ltd. Since its establishment, Tenraishoin has continued to introduce and educate the public on calligraphy through publishing literature, producing video content and DVDs, and giving lectures. From 2000 to 2002, Hidai served as the director of Saku City (former Mochizuki Town)'s Tenrai Memorial Hall.
Susumu TAKAHASHI｜Professor Emeritus, Japan Women’s College of Physical Education・Nankoku Hidai Researcher
Administrator of the official NANKOKU website.
In 1979, Takahashi withdrew from his doctoral course in philosophy at Gakushin University's Humanities Department despite completing his course requirements. After working as a philosophy assistant at Gakushin University's Literature Department, Takahashi became a full-time lecturer at Japan Women's College of Physical Education in 1983. From 2006 until his retirement in 2015, Takahashi served as a Japan Women’s College of Physical Education professor. Having majored in modern Western philosophy and intellectual history, Takahashi taught philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, and art history at Japan Women’s College of Physical Education.
Takahashi is a co-translator of Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Jimbun Shoin), Nancy Reynolds and Malcolm McCormick's No Fixed Points: Dance in the Twentieth Century (Keio University Press), and more.
110th Year Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition, HIDAI NANKOKU
Dates｜ November 12 (Saturday) to December 10 (Saturday), 2022 to February 4, 2023
Admission｜ Free
Venue｜ √K Contemporary（Minamicho 6, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
Organizer｜ Japan Art Inheritence Association
Planning｜ √K Contemporary
Collaborators｜Tenraishoin, Kazuko Hidai, Yoshinobu Hidai, Susumu Takahashi, Soseki Takahashi, SEI-RIN Co., Ltd.
Design｜ Shintaro Tabara
Installation Views｜https://ocula.com/art-galleries/k-contemporary/exhibitions/nankoku-hidai-shin-sen/
【Exhibition Period Extension Announcement】
Due to popular demand, the 110-year anniversary commemorative exhibition, HIDAI NANKOKU has been extended until February 4, 2023.
During this, the exhibition will undergo a partial changeover and will return in 2023 with an updated display of previously unexhibited works, so be sure to visit to see what’s new!
Please note, the B1F display of the artist’s Takuhon (ink rubbing) collection will end on December 10 (Sat).
√K Contemporary (Root K Contemporary) is proud to host HIDAI NANKOKU, a solo exhibition of the avant-garde calligrapher, Nankoku Hidai’s works. Organized by the Japan Art Inheritance Association, the exhibition features approximately 50 works, including never-before-exhibited works as well as Takuhon (ink rubbings) from the artist’s personal collection.*
Through his conception of the “Art of the Line”, Nankoku Hidai shocked the art world, as well as his fellow Japanese calligraphers. Described as the “New Abstract Style” by the San Francisco Sunday Chronicle, his works earned great acclaim and were subsequently acquired by prominent collectors and highly established institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.
Despite these accomplishments, Hidai’s achievements fail to place themselves within the framework of art history. With this year marking 110 years since his birth, the exhibition seeks to revisit and unravel the artist’s “Art of the Line” with the hopes of articulating and sharing his talents and accomplishments with future generations.
*The HIDAI NANKOKU Takuohon (ink rubbing) display is on view from November 12 to December 10, 2022.
【On the Exhibtion】
I came across Nankoku Hidai’s works some years back and, taken by the impact of his lines, organized an exhibition titled Linework at √K Contemporary. With Hidai as a key figure, we curated a show that shone a light on artists who expressed the art of the line. However, most visitors were new to Hidai’s work and were fascinated by his unique and powerful aesthetic.
Although this year marks the 110th year anniversary of the artist’s birth, his name is rarely mentioned in 20th-century art history, and, knowing how many have reacted to his work, I can’t help but feel a sense of incongruity.
Since Nankoku is a calligrapher, he is often described as an “avant-garde calligrapher”.
However, what exactly is avant-garde calligraphy?
When thinking of his work, this is the question that continued to linger in my mind. Viewed as “avant-garde calligraphy”, if his achievements are interpreted as irrelevant to art due to their being calligraphy, then where lies the essence of art?
Nankoku, like much of his surrounding contemporaries, saw great potential for the future and may have been on the brink of arousing extraordinary change.
By changing the way people think, we hope to make an impact that places Japanese art within the global context and removes the perceived boundaries between art and calligraphy. Through the works of the calligrapher who single-handedly tried to convey the essence of both, calligraphy and art, we believe Japanese art can take a leap forward.
With this in mind, we feel honored to be part of this momentous exhibition and look forward to sharing his works with many.
Ichiko Kashima（Director of √K Contemporary）
【Exhibition Highlights】
A Presentation of Approx. 50 Works Featuring Never-Before-Exhibited Works
In this line-up of approximately 50 works, Hidai Nankoku will present 7 works that will make their debut in Japan since their inaugural presentation in 1960s America, as well as never-before-exhibited works.
Nankoku Hidai Takuhon (Ink Rubbing) Collection
The artist’s prized collection of Takuhon works will be on display in the basement of the gallery.
When Nankoku held his solo exhibition together with a Takuhon exhibition, he surprised Western audiences by presenting an art form that was unknown to the West. An art form crucial to Hidai’s conception of the “Art of the Line”, Takuhon exists beyond the bounds of Western art. Presenting a major part of Hidai’s collection, this display offers viewers the opportunity to understand and discover the significance of Takuhon.
A Special Display of Historically Significant Documents
In addition to making art, Hidai was an active promoter of calligraphy, giving lectures, demonstrations, and instructive lessons on “the accurate history of calligraphy, how to appreciate calligraphy, and how to write calligraphy” at universities and research institutes in and out of Japan. On this special occasion, important documents such as publications from the time and newspaper articles will be on display. Additional highlights include items that further evidence the artist’s wide influence; from acquisition records by MoMA, NY, and established collectors in the 1960s, to collaborative works by the artist and renowned artists such as Pierre Alechinsky and Walasse Ting.
【Special Events】
With the aim of further exploring the character and artistry of the artist, several special events, from rinsho (calligraphy imitation) workshops to collaborative fashion events, will be held during the course of the exhibition.
Further details will be posted on our social media pages and the exhibition website.
Gallery Talk
Led by Ms. Kazuko Hidai of Tenraishoin, a gallery talk featuring a variety of guests will be held during the exhibition. Taking place within the exhibition space, the talk will provide an intimate and valuable insight into the artist’s oeuvre, creative environment, and character.
Nankoku-Style Calligraphy Rinsho Workshop
A workshop where participants can choose which takuhon they would like to render and make their own work will be held at the venue.
During his time in America, he would teach calligraphy to local artists who knew nothing of the art. In this workshop, Mr. Soseki Takahashi, a disciple of the artist who also studied calligraphy, will give a lecture based on a course from the time. All participants are welcome, so please take this valuable opportunity to interact with takuhon and learn more about calligraphy.
Kyoto University of the Arts Calligraphy Lecture
A special HIDAI NANKOKU-themed Kyoto University of the Arts calligraphy lecture will be held at our gallery.
*Please note, all events are in Japanese only.
IMAGES
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67-3, 1967, ink on paper. Private collection
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No. 7 “Bird and Bow”, 1949, ink on paper
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57-11-B, 1957, ink on paper
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59-27, 1959, ink on paper
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61-3, 1961, ink on paper
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64-10, 1964, ink on paper
ARTISTS
1912: Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture under the name, Susumu Hidai.
1934: Graduates from Tokyo Higher Polytechnic School
1999: Passes away on the 15th of October at 87 years old.
Born as a second son to Hidai Tenrai and Shokin Hidai, Nankoku studied under his father, Hidai Tenrai.
Following his father’s death, the artist inherited his father’s calligraphy research institute, “Shogakuin” and subsequently began managing thousands of precious monuments whilst simultaneously reopening the Shogakuin Publishing Department to publish high-quality educational literature. In 1945, he created his first avant-garde work, “Den no Variation” (lit. Lightning Variation), and displayed it the following year, shocking his fellow contemporaries.
The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions in cities such as Tokyo and New York and has been invited to participate in contemporary exhibitions. The artist’s work has been acquired by several prominent institutions, such as New York’s MoMA and Hong Kong’s M+. Hidai has also given talks on calligraphy at 20 universities, including Princeton and Columbia.
Official Website: http://www.shodo.co.jp/nankoku/
Public Collections
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto / Saku City Koma no Sato Fureai Center / Saku City Museum of Tenrai / Chiba City Museum of Art / The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo / Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo / Naritasan Calligraphy Museum / Nagai Museum of Modern Art / Hokkaido Hakodate Museum / Yale University Art Museum / University of California, Berkeley Museum / Kröller-Müller Museum / Cornell University Johnson Museum of Art/ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, / New York Museum of Modern Art / Harvard University Fog Museum of Art / National Gallery of Victoria / M+
1912: Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture under the name, Susumu Hidai.
1934: Graduates from Tokyo Higher Polytechnic School
1999: Passes away on the 15th of October at 87 years old.
Born as a second son to Hidai Tenrai and Shokin Hidai, Nankoku studied under his father, Hidai Tenrai.
Following his father’s death, the artist inherited his father’s calligraphy research institute, “Shogakuin” and subsequently began managing thousands of precious monuments whilst simultaneously reopening the Shogakuin Publishing Department to publish high-quality educational literature. In 1945, he created his first avant-garde work, “Den no Variation” (lit. Lightning Variation), and displayed it the following year, shocking his fellow contemporaries.
The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions in cities such as Tokyo and New York and has been invited to participate in contemporary exhibitions. The artist’s work has been acquired by several prominent institutions, such as New York’s MoMA and Hong Kong’s M+. Hidai has also given talks on calligraphy at 20 universities, including Princeton and Columbia.
Official Website: http://www.shodo.co.jp/nankoku/
Public Collections
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto / Saku City Koma no Sato Fureai Center / Saku City Museum of Tenrai / Chiba City Museum of Art / The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo / Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo / Naritasan Calligraphy Museum / Nagai Museum of Modern Art / Hokkaido Hakodate Museum / Yale University Art Museum / University of California, Berkeley Museum / Kröller-Müller Museum / Cornell University Johnson Museum of Art/ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, / New York Museum of Modern Art / Harvard University Fog Museum of Art / National Gallery of Victoria / M+
EVENT
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2023.02.03Gallery Talk
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2023.01.28Kyoto University of the Arts Calligraphy Lecture
A special HIDAI NANKOKU-themed Kyoto University of the Arts calligraphy lecture will be held at our gallery on January 28 (Sat) from 2:30 pm. Led by Nankoku Hidai’s daughter, Ms. Kazuko Hidai, participants are welcome to join in person or online via Zoom.*
*Please note that this is a Japanese-only event. In addition, as the lecture will be broadcasted on Zoom, please note that visiting participants may be recorded.
【Event Details】
Schedule： January 28 (Sat) 2:30 pm to 6 pm JST
Venue：√K Contemporary
Admission： Free
Zoom Link：https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81875720398 -
2022.11.23Gallery Tour by Kazuko Hidai
Guided by Ms. Kazuko Hidai, the tour will guide you through exhibited works to the artist's very own Takuhon (ink rubbings) collection.
Experienced or not, we welcome you all to take this opportunity to join us along on this special tour. Admission is free.
Schedule｜2022.11.23 (Wed)
① 2 to 3 pm
② 4 to 5 pm
（Approx. 1 hour per session）2022.12.03 -
2022.12.03Nankoku-Style Calligraphy Rinsho Workshop
Inspired by the artist, who taught calligraphy to completely novel artists in America, this workshop will offer a chance for participants to choose from a Takuhon and make their own work based on their choice.
On this occasion, the artist’s former apprentice and calligraphy master, Soseki Takahashi will provide a lecture and demonstration on Nankoku-style calligraphy and the art of Takuhon (ink rubbings).
We hope you take this valuable opportunity to learn and experience more about the art of calligraphy.
Schedule: December 3, 2022 (Sat) 3 to 5 pm (approx. 2 hours per session)
Admission: 1,000 yen (plus a 2,500 yen fee for those without a brush)
*Calligraphy brushes are required. Those who wish to may purchase their own brush at the venue.
Participants: 20 people max. *Spaces allotted in order of inquiry.
For reservations, please contact us below.
√K Contemporary
Tel： 03-6280-8808 / Email : info@root-k.jp
