Hiroshi Wada
Biography
Hiroshi Wada is a calligraphy artist based in Kyoto, Japan.
He has started practicing Japanese Shodo (literally means the way of calligraphy) at the age of 5 and started to study under a calligrapher master Ryosetsu Imai in 1997.
He was selected for the Nitten exhibition several times, which is the biggest and greatest general art exhibition in Japan. Currently, he exhibits his works at solo and group exhibitions mainly in the US and Europe.
He is trying to make Japanese classical calligraphy that can be blended into any scenes in the world, with out-of-box style, not to follow only the traditional way.
Artist Statement
I try to once forget what I have learned so far and start with a clean slate to write characters like a child who writes characters innocently. Even so, the lines of characters should be such lines as only a proficient calligrapher can draw, and the characters should be avant-garde but readable. This is the calligraphy I wish to achieve. My works might be considered heresy from the standpoint of classic traditional Japanese calligraphy. However, I believe unless we break classical traditions or common sense, truly new things cannot be made. This might seem odd now, but I strongly believe the time will come someday in the future, it may be several decades later or even a hundred years later after I die, people will understand eventually my thought and way.
What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?
Ever since I was a little kid, I have enjoyed writing words. I often used to write words on paper and show them to my parents. And I started to learn Japanese calligraphy at the age of five, and it has been passed 50 years now. I believe I was born to be an artist.
What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?
I want to create artworks that will touch the heart of the viewer and amaze the people, even hundreds of years after I leave this world.
What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?
First of all, I want to express the coolness and rustic beauty of black and white. I am hoping to turn the space to the finest and refined ambiance when my artwork is decorated. And I write words, so hope to talk to the heart of viewers, bringing them peace of mind or an uplifting feeling with the meaning of words.
Can you explain the process of creating your work?
I decide the theme of the artwork at first and make up its image in my head. Then rub the ink stick on the inkstone to make Sumi ink. I draw letters many times on the same theme until I am satisfied with them. Sometimes it will be hundreds. Then pick up the best one among them.
What is your favorite part of the creative process?
The moment I could make the one I like.
Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?
I am aiming to create a fusion of intentional and unintentional. In other words, I complete my works by mixing unintentional damage and intentional lines draw by my hand. It is like damaged denim. This is something no one has done ever before in the field of Japanese calligraphy. I assume it may seem odd in modern days. However, I believe that there will be people who empathize with my works in the future. I want to be an artist who everyone in the world will know someday in the future.
Website https://www.hiroshiwada.jp
The world is one_01 Japanese Calligraphy on Paper 48x88㎝
LOVE_05 Japanese Calligraphy on Paper 53x96cm
BEAUTY_05 Japanese Calligraphy on Paper 87x114cm
FREEDOM_02 Japanese Calligraphy on Paper 54x96cm
i.e._01 Japanese Calligraphy on Paper 53x96cm
Street style_01 Japanese Calligraphy on Paper 73x69cm
