SHODŌ CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOP

We are happy to announce the first Shodō (書道) calligraphy workshop, hosted by The Feuerle Collection, and held by Okinawan artist and calligrapher Sugano Matsusaki, on January 25, 2024, as a part of our program of activities dedicated to young Berlin based Asian artists.

Participants in the workshop will receive an insight into philosophy and gestures of the ascetic art of Japanese calligraphy, and they will learn about its tools, while producing their very own good luck Kakizome (書き初め), a character with their new year’s resolution or wish for 2024.

The class is perfectly suitable also for neophytes and beginners.

Shodō is a writing practice originating in China during the Tang dynasty (618 AD – 906 AD), which was brought to Japan by Zen monks, and deeply influenced Japanese calligraphy. Ever since, it has kept continuously evolving, also thanks to the consistent exchanges between the Chinese and the Japanese world, and it still plays a significant role in several contemporary cultures.

Sho stands for ‘writing’ and do for ‘path’ –– more precisely, ‘the path of devoting oneself to one thing’. In fact, the dedication to the process of learning represents one the most important aspects of its philosophy.

For Sugano Matsusaki’s shodō workshop, The Feuerle Collection will provide the participants with all essential writing materials, and tools: Paper, brush, ink and ink pond, the so called bungu-shiho, ‘four treasures of stationeries’ (文具四宝). Sayu tea (白湯), the traditional boiled water will also be served.

Sugano Matsusaki is a calligrapher from Okinawa, Japan, with 25 years of experience. She learned from Mr. Seian Morishima and Mr. Shuseki Ogawa, and she has been exploring her own calligraphy based on traditional techniques. She traces the lines of legendary Chinese and Japanese calligraphers in history, striving to recreate their perfect line and timeless beauty. Through intensive and repetitive transcribing, she engages in an intimate dialogue between history and herself. She embraces the philosophy that the pursuit of perfect beauty and line are fundamental aspects of calligraphy, also recognizing that a unique movement of the ink emerges through the brushwork’s imperfections and idiosyncrasies.

This workshop is suitable for adults and young persons aged 12 and over. We don’t grant admittance to person under the age of 12.

The visit to the permanent colleciton as well as the temporaty exhibiton is not part of the workshop and the reservations can be made by visiting the webisiste at www.thefeuerlecollection.org.