Modern Directions of a Traditional Art: The Use of Colour in Japanese Calligraphy

This study aims to analyse the way in which modern techniques are used in the art of Japanese calligraphy (shodō). Known for its preservation of traditional values, over the years shodō has started to focus less on rigour of the form and more on the possibility to reflect the calligrapher’s vision and thoughts. The article intends to highlight this shift by accentuating the impact that the evolution of writing in Japan has had on shodō and ultimately showcasing the way in which colour is used by calligraphers. The two aspects this study will bring forth will be the way in which the evolution of writing in Japan created an opportunity for innovation and how the novelty factor has evolved, currently opening new possibilities of using colour to convey deeper layers of meaning. In order to illustrate how the use of colour in shodō can transcend conventional practices, we analyse the work (物の)哀 The beauty of simple and ephemeral things created by the contemporary Romanian calligrapher Rodica Frențiu. We conclude by emphasizing the close link between traditional values and the calligraphers’ expressivity and by underlining the fact that this approach can broaden the creative horizons of shodō in the future.