Avant-garde Tradition: Contemporary Japanese Calligraphy from Nanto
23 February to 20 March 2011

The exhibition is jointly organized by the University Museum and Art Gallery and the Ise Cultural Foundation, with the assistance of the Consulate General of Japan in Hong Kong and the Toyama Prefecture Government, Japan.

The exhibition features calligraphic works by “Gen do sya”, a group of contemporary artists from the city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. They specialize in an innovative art form that combines calligraphy, painting and drawing. Their free-hand works express aesthetics of modern Japan. This avant-garde approach is evident in the seven female artists’ unique calligraphic styles.

In addition to calligraphy, the exhibition also displays other artworks reflecting the lifestyle of Nanto culture. These include prints by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) and Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), lacquer wares, cloisonné- enamelled vessels and tea utensils.

The exhibition was first exhibited in Tokyo last year and will travel to Beijing in April after Hong Kong.