Shōko Kanazawa (b.1985)

A four-fold screen with calligraphy “Hishō (Fly High)

Sealed Koran

Ink on paper

Japan, 21st century

Born in Tokyo in 1985, Shōko Kanazawa started her early training in calligraphy at the age of five, under the guidance of her mother, Yasuko.

She first gained recognition in 2005, at the age of 20, with her debut solo exhibition, Shōko Kanazawa: The World of Calligraphy, held at the Ginza Shoro Gallery, Tokyo. Since then, her works have been displayed in many exhibitions across Japan and internationally, including at major Buddhist temples and Shintō shrines in Japan, such as Hōryū-ji temple, Tōdai-ji temple, Yakushi-ji temple and Ise Shrine, as well as at Fukuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, The Ueno Royal Museum and Mori Arts Center Gallery, Tokyo. Her exhibitions also include those held abroad in the USA, the Czech Republic, Singapore, the UAE, Russia and Taiwan.

Her calligraphy is renowned for her large-scale works executed in its bold and dynamic style, like this present example. Her largest piece to date measures an impressive 15 meters in length. She often performs live calligraphy in public spaces, including at historic temples and shrines, not only showing her skills and techniques but also the meditative as well as spontaneous aspects of the art of calligraphy.

Kanazawa was diagnosed as having Down’s syndrome. Her personal challenges seem to have served to enrich her artistic expression, and her resilience and dedication to the field have been admired by and encouraged many. She is also known for her charitable efforts to realise a more inclusive society and for supporting sufferers from natural disasters. Her major work, Tomoni Ikiru (Together We Live), created in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, epitomises her wish for the society’s solidarity, resilience and peace. Kanazawa’s dynamic works with masterful skills in calligraphy continue to inspire audiences worldwide.