Upcoming: 還源 KANGEN -Reunited with Nature-: Calligraphy Exhibtion & Live Performance

Art Shows, Calligraphy, Events, Music

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還源   KANGEN

-Reunited with Nature-

Exhibition: November 19 - December 11, 2010
Opening Reception & Live Performance:  Friday November 19, 2010
7pm- 2am | $5 Suggested donation in support of our traveling artists

Artists:

Aoi Yamaguchi | Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition / Live Performance (Oakland)
Hiroko Tsuchimoto | Textile installation (Sweden)
Martin Söderblom | Film Projection (Sweden)
Mika Yanagihara | Contemporary Dance performance (New York)
Zaion | Music Producer (Tokyo)

Japanese artists now living in San Francisco, New York, and Sweden explore the theme of KANGEN -Reunited with Nature- through installation and live art performance in hopes to embody human distinctions celebrate the natural order of life.

On the night of the reception, KANGEN -Reunited with Nature- features a collaborative live performance by a Japanese calligrapher Aoi Yamaguchi, contemporary dancer Mika Yanagihara, textile artist Hiroko Tsuchimoto, video artist Martin Söderblom, and music producer Zaion.  Artists transcribe their visualization of reincarnation, “from rebirth to death,” through physical movement of live calligraphy and contemporary dance performance.

KANGEN -Reunited with Nature- is the second series of CHISEKI -Traces of Nature-, which was held in New York in March 2010, directed by Aoi Yamaguchi, Hiroko Tsuchimoto, and curated by Tokio Kuniyoshi.

Fivepoints Arthouse

72 Tehama, San Francisco, CA
415.989.1166
Website: www.fivepointsarthouse.com

Links:
Aoi Yamaguchi  http://www.glamourousmonochrome.com
Hiroko Tsuchimoto  http://www.hirokotsuchimoto.com/
Mika Yanagihara http://pnoworoldance.com/performers.html
Zaion http://zaionrecordings.com/

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About Aoi Yamaguchi (yes it's me..)

Born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan in 1984, Aoi Yamaguchi has been trained to master the basics of calligraphy by learning under the Master Zuiho Sato since at the age of 6, while refining her knowledge and skills.  She is a recipient of numerous awards including the First Place prize from the Minister of Education at 44th Asahi Calligraphy Nationwide School Exhibit, Superior First Place at 33rd National Students Calligraphy Exhibition and others that are known as the supreme prizes at competitive public exhibitions.  As a noteworthy event, she was nominated to participate in the group, 4th Hokkaido Elementary and Junior High Students Visit to China in 2000, representing the country of Japan and participated in calligraphy exchange sessions at Palace of Pupils of China. Her works show her exploration in juxtaposing the traditional Eastern classics and her contemporary artistic expressions, as well as her unique ambition of transforming two-dimensional art of Japanese Calligraphy into the art of physical expression through performances. Currently living in Oakland, she has been working on her unique calligraphy installation, exhibition, live performances, custom logo designs and art works internationally, as she pursues her career to preserve traditional arts with music in the modern world.

About Hiroko Tsuchimoto

Hiroko Tsuchimoto is an artist living in Stockholm. She works with different media, such as textile, video and even her body. A concept, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" is always behind her works. Born in Sapporo, Japan in 1984. She graduated from Konstfack (Textile in the Expanded Field: MFA) this spring and now studies in Royal University College of Fine Arts (KKH) as a Guest Student.

About Mika Yanagihara

Mika Yanagihara has trained modern, ballet, jazz, contemporary since started her training by modern ballet when she was 2 years old.  In 1997-1998, she won scholarship at Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York.  Mika has a vast range of experience such as performing on television, musical, world expo, music video, and fashion. Since 2007, she has been directing total art entertainment "KAGUYA" which she founded in Japan and also teaching and choreographing for the past 9 years.  She is currently dancing with Diane McCarthy, Patricia Noworol Dance Company, and 277danceproject.

About Zaion

Born in Toyama, Japan, Zaion was raised with a classical music background, then he gravitated towards creating hip hop. Zaion is an avid traveler, he aims to mesh cultural textures with lush musical landscapes with his main tool: the MPC2000XL. His long-awaited debut album "Nomadic Journals" was released in December 2009. After his musical and cultural exploration in San Francisco for several years, he now lives and works in Tokyo.

We look forward to see you at the show!

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NEW WORK: “Food” – Calligraphy Signage Installation for Ippuku

Calligraphy, Food

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食は君と僕とをつなぐ
食は心と心をつなぐ
食はいのちを恵みのいろに染め
食は笑顔をもたらし
食はひとの絆を深め
食は愛をはぐくみ
食は会話を生み
食は国と国とをつなぎ
食は世界をつないでいく
幸福の輪は しあわせな食卓からはじまる。

- 書家 山口碧生 自詠

Food

Food connects you and me
Food connects your heart and mine
Food colors our lives with blessings from nature
Food brings smiles
Food deepens bonds
Food cultivates love
Food starts conversations
Food connects across countries
Food unites the world
The wheel of happiness begins with a happy dining table.

- Aoi Yamaguchi, Japanese Calligrapher, a poem for Ippuku

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Calligraphy & Poem written by Aoi Yamaguchi
Illustration of Chicken by Noa-

INSTALLATION PROCESS:

Installing the last piece. It was almost 5pm!

Then we removed the wood bar in front of the shutter...

Done!

Alef treated us with Japanese ramune soda... such a nostalgic flavor, bringing back childhood memories...

Cheers!

IPPUKU
2130 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704
http://www.ippukuberkeley.com/

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Special thanks to:
Alef de Ghize, Ippuku's carpenter |
www.blacklinedb.com
Christian & Erinn Geideman, the owner of Ippuku, and their lovely family
Keiko Moriyama, photographer
Miki's Paper, Derrick Victa, Yoram Savion

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NEW WORK: “An Eternal Soul” – Official Cover Artwork for Nujabes Documentary Film

Calligraphy, Design

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Official Cover Artwork for "An Eternal Soul"- Nujabes Documentary Film

Credit:
Photographer: Chris Andersen
Calligraphy Artist: Aoi Yamaguchi
Watercolor Painter: Isabella Kung
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今年2月に、不慮の交通事故により、永久の眠りについたHip Hop beatmaker、Nujabes氏。彼の音楽のファンは、日本国内のみならず海外でも多く、彼の死はたくさんのファンの心を痛めた事と思います。私も、その中の一人でした。今回、そのNujabesトリビュートドキュメンタリーの公式カバーアートの制作を依頼され、つい先週にリリースになりました。。監督をつとめているのはAbe Spiegel氏。彼からの一通のメールで、このプロジェクトが実現へ。

ウォーターカラーのイラストを担当してくれたのは、Isabella Kung。彼女の作風から、彼女とのコラボレーションできっと素敵なカバーが出来るだろうと確信し、この企画を持ちかけ、約一ヶ月で交渉からミーティング、制作まで全て順調に運びました。私は、書道タイトル、digital compositionを担当しました。Abe氏はカバーの仕上がりに多いに感動してくれ、私としても嬉しい限りです。そしてなにより、尊敬するアーティストNujabes氏の為に、私の書道で力添えが出来た事が嬉しい。

このドキュメンタリーは、2011年後期に公開予定です。そして、previewは2011年2月に、DCのNujabes Tribute Eventで上映される予定だそうです。

Nujabes, a legendary Japanese Hip Hop beat producer, passed away  because of an unexpected car accident in February 2010.  His music has been loved and supported by many fans internationally.  This tragic news must have been painful to a lot of his fans, and I was no exception.  A few months ago, I received an email from Abe Spiegel, who initiated to produce a documentary film tribute to Nujabes.

I have just completed a cover art design for this documentary film in collaboration with a watercolor artist Isabella Kung.  I was introduced to her talent through a friend of mine, and I asked her to come on board for this project.  I was in charge of art direction, Japanese calligraphy title and digital composition.  The pillar is symbolic icon for the theme of the documentary, "an eternal soul".  We are both glad that Abe was thrilled about the final product.  And, more than anything, I am glad that I was able to contribute to this documentary project for Nujabes, who I respect and adore.

The official release date of this documentary film will be in late 2011.  The preview will be screened at the Nujabes Tribute Event "PEACELAND" in DC in February 2011.

Nujabes, rest in peace.

For more details: http://nujabesdocumentary.tumblr.com/

制作風景 (Photos from production):

Of course, Nujabes' tracks were playing in loop in the background...

Photos by Yoram Savion

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