The Revolution Reflected in the Mirror: Calligraselfie
Calligrapher Mami was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1990 and is active in a wide range of fields, including solo exhibitions, live performances both in Japan and overseas, and VI and video works. At the age of nine, she encountered calligraphy in an elementary school class. "The more you press the brush, the thicker the line becomes, and the more you pull it, the thinner the line becomes, and the ink bleeds and smudges. I was fascinated by this 3D movement," she says, and that very same day, she went to a calligraphy class in her neighborhood. She became so engrossed in it that she "wrote nonstop every day, determined not to lose," as she says, as she was rivalrous against a classmate who already had a rank, and soon became a regular winner in competitions.
In her second year of high school, Mami decided to become a calligrapher and entered the calligraphy department at Daito Bunka University. However, while searching for new ways to express herself through calligraphy, she began to feel out of place with the people around her who were simply following the established path of the calligraphy world. This led her to come up with the idea of incorporating hip-hop, which she had long loved, into her calligraphy. She then recognized graffiti, an element of hip-hop culture, as a visual language art just like calligraphy, and established a style called "Calligraf2ity," a coined word that means the fusion of the two cultures, Calligrahy and Graffiti. Like many street cultures, Mami's style is characterized by a mix-up of elements that were not previously thought to be associated with calligraphy.
"Anything that follows the basic form is calligraphy. Writing on paper with ink dates back about 1700 years ago, which is quite recent in history. Before that, writing on cow bones or turtle shells, carvings on bronze vessels, and even things that didn't even use a brush are considered calligraphy." In terms of its lineage, expressions using current technology are also considered calligraphy, and recently he has been working on challenging expressions such as drone calligraphy, where letters are drawn in the sky by drones.
Calligraphy that engages the world and aims for good
This exhibition, "Calligraselfie," allows you to see the current state of this mixed-up expression. Combining "selfie," which refers to taking a picture of yourself with a camera, and calligraphy, calligraphy is defined as a self-portrait of the heart. In Zen, the calligraphy and painting "Enso" is also called a circular window, and a circle drawn with a single stroke looks different depending on the state of mind of the viewer, and is considered a window that reflects one's own heart. As Mami herself says, "Happy thoughts are conveyed directly in calligraphy," calligraphy can reveal the state of one's heart. Mami's attempt to approach the relationship between calligraphy and the inner self of humans can also be seen in "BLACKBLACK," which was released in 2013, in which characters are written in ink on a black background.
Calligraphy Selfies originated from the series People are Mirrors, which was released in 2020, in which letters were written on mirrors. "If the person in front of you has a bad attitude, it is a reflection of your own attitude. By adopting a good attitude and acting in a good way towards others based on this admonition, positive vibes will spread and we can create the world we wish to live in." Based on the concept of "people are mirrors that reflect ourselves," which Mami herself cites as one of her favorite phrases, the series explores our relationship with the world.
"When you look at yourself in a glass or mirror and see that you are hunched over, you straighten your back. You become aware of such things that you don't notice and are conscious of trying to improve yourself. A mirror guides you in a positive direction. Taking a selfie is an act of discovering your greatest charm." Calligraphy reflects the heart, others reflect who you are, and selfies help you find the person you want to be. Mami appeals for the good of society as a whole through the relationships reflected in these mirrors. In this exhibition, mirrors with writing written on them are lined up, and when you take a picture of the works with your smartphone, the photographer himself will appear in the photo. By posting the photo on social media and spreading it to society, it becomes an interactive installation expression that attempts to accidentally create connections between the inner selves of oneself and others.
Provocative expression that takes flight from history
Serendipity (chance encounters) has been taken away, exchanges have been closed, and there are concerns about deepening divisions. Relationships are being questioned all over the world, including issues with supply chains in business and geopolitics. What is needed is a collaborative effort in which people with opposing relationships can meet, share their opinions, and debate on an equal footing. History shows that this is how a new era has been opened up.
Manbi is a personal admirer of the calligraphers Zhao Zhiqian and Wu Changyan, who were Qing dynasty calligraphers who had a major influence on Chinese Northern Wei calligraphy and early modern calligraphy, and continues to study the classics to this day. "Calligraphy cannot develop unless you have mastered the basic character patterns. It is only with ancient calligraphy that it can take flight as a beautiful form of expression. There is no end to it." In a modern world where conflicts are repeated without any regard for history, calligraphy also shows the importance of a historical perspective.
While the calligraphy world can be perceived as somewhat closed, BAMBI has a foundation for the long-standing tradition and inheritance of techniques, and BAMBI pays utmost respect to it, saying that it is precisely because he has been allowed to stand there that he is able to challenge himself to free expression. "I will pass on the power of calligraphy that I feel to people 1,000 years from now." This will be a turning point in the history of calligraphy. This is also the reason for BAMBI's consistent "challenging" expressions.
Hannah Arendt, in "On Revolution," writes that when people gather together and debate, the power that flows from that opens up a new era. She says that this is what revolution is all about. Calligraphy selfies are filled with the power to move toward goodness, with calligraphy as a medium for connecting people. This is a revolution by citizens, just like hip-hop.
About Live Performance
There will be live performances every day during the exhibition.
No reservation is required and anyone can view it.