MUSCAT: On the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and the Sultanate of Oman, a Japanese calligrapher couple held an exhibition titled ‘Karma’ in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan and the Omani Society for Arts. Ambassador of Japan Jota Yamamoto held a reception ceremony at his residence on Wednesday to welcome the calligraphers. A live show of calligraphy was held on the occasion.
The Japanese calligraphy, one of the oldest traditional art forms appreciated for many years, uses brush and ink to bring out the beauty of the Japanese alphabets. Students learn calligraphy at school as it is incorporated in school curriculum. Many adults also enjoy it in their pastime. It is said the peace of mind and spiritual concentration are required to finish up the calligraphy art.
Two visiting calligraphers, Kawaguchi Yuho and Kawaguchi Seiren, displayed contemporary calligraphy works at an exhibition titled En (karma). People unexpectedly meet and say goodbyes. Nature has always been made up of deep connections between everything that exists. The Japanese people generally express gratitude for these connections with a word ‘En’, or karma. Joys, sorrows and sufferings are all based on En.
For both calligraphers, “En” exhibition emphasises the good relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Japan over the past 50 years.
As the calligraphers believe that both Arabic and Japanese calligraphy are the result of an inside thoughts and soul representation to the status of the artist at the time. the Arabic calligraphy stems of the Holy Quran and developed into an art, the Japanese calligraphy has also developed from Buddhism.
In her work (Sei-Getu-Fu-Ka), Kawaguchi Seiren tried to connect the eternal beauty of the stars and moon and the not everlasting of wind and the flower. This expresses the beauty of the opposites.
While Kawaguchi Yuho, in his work (Nana-Korobi-Yaoki) tries to demonstrate that no matter how many times you fail, don’t let it stop you and summon up the courage to do it again.
The exhibition also displays works by Belgian visual artist Ingrid Van Heyden. The collaboration of the Japanese and western arts explores new artistic possibilities by combining calligraphic imagery and techniques with modern form of conceptual and performance art.
