- 《花》／2025
Kasetsu
華雪
- ART FAIR - MEET YOUR ARTISTS
Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1975. He currently resides in Tokyo. He graduated from the Department of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, College of Letters, Ritsumeikan University.
Started solo exhibitions focusing on single-character calligraphy in 1992.
As a child, when he began learning calligraphy, he encountered a kanji dictionary created by Shizuka Shirakawa, a researcher of East Asian writing culture, which sparked his interest in the origins and development of kanji. He was also greatly influenced by avant-garde books that emerged in Japan after World War II, formed through his interactions with Abstract Expressionism.
While delving deeper into the hieroglyphs, the original forms of Chinese characters said to have been created about 3,300 years ago, Kasetsu continues to publish works that examine the essence of humanity across generations and question the nature of language, which is one of the major elements shaping human society. These works are expressed using a variety of materials aligned with the theme, and are also exhibited in various forms and methods, attempting to fuse calligraphy and art.
Alongside his creative work, he continuously holds workshops where he writes kanji characters with various social environments and the people living there. In the workshops, participants listen to the act of writing characters and their thoughts related to those kanji, aiming to create a space where participants can share the meaning of writing words and the impact that act has on humans.
In modern society, where globalization and technological advancement make diversity more visible and resistance and uncertainty increase, Kasetsu explores the ever-changing relationship between words and humans through the expression of writing, and questions people about them.
Profile image: Photo by Hanabo
Born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1975, Kasetsu lives and works in Tokyo.
She graduated from Ritsumeikan University with a degree in psychology. Since 1992, she has dedicated herself to the art of single-character calligraphy, holding solo exhibitions that explore the profound depth with in a single stroke.
Her journey into calligraphy began in childhood, when she first encountered the work of Shizuka Shirakawa, a renowned scholar of East Asian characters, and became fascinated by the origins and evolution of Chinese characters. At the same time, she was profoundly influenced by the avant-garde calligraphy movement that emerged in postwar Japan, where the bold gestures of Abstract Expressionism intertwined with traditional calligraphic forms.
Through her research into hieroglyphics——the primal forms of Chinese
characters, said to have been created over 3,300 years ago——Kasetsu delves into the timeless essence of humanity. Her works transcend mere symbols, questioning the very nature of language, one of the fundamental forces shaping our modern world.
Each of her creations is tailored to a theme, expressed through single Chinese characters rendered in diverse materials. Her approach dissolves the boundaries between traditional calligraphy and contemporary world.
Beyond her artistic practice, Kasetsu finds deep meaning in engaging with others through workshops, where single-character writing becomes a shared act of exploration. Within these gatherings, she listens to particpants’ reflections on a single Chinese character and the act of writing, cultivating a space where the power of words and their influence on human experience can be rediscovered.
In an era where globalization and technological progress have amplified both diversity and division, Kasetsu uses the writing single Chinese characters, rich with layered meanings in Japanese as a means of navigating the shifting relationship between language and humanity. Through her work, she invites the viewers to pause and engage in a dialogue with words——an ever-changing bridge between past and present, self and other.
Profile credit：Photo by Kabo
Wah Sit _CV
Started solo exhibitions focusing on single-character calligraphy in 1992.
As a child, when he began learning calligraphy, he encountered a kanji dictionary created by Shizuka Shirakawa, a researcher of East Asian writing culture, which sparked his interest in the origins and development of kanji. He was also greatly influenced by avant-garde books that emerged in Japan after World War II, formed through his interactions with Abstract Expressionism.
While delving deeper into the hieroglyphs, the original forms of Chinese characters said to have been created about 3,300 years ago, Kasetsu continues to publish works that examine the essence of humanity across generations and question the nature of language, which is one of the major elements shaping human society. These works are expressed using a variety of materials aligned with the theme, and are also exhibited in various forms and methods, attempting to fuse calligraphy and art.
Alongside his creative work, he continuously holds workshops where he writes kanji characters with various social environments and the people living there. In the workshops, participants listen to the act of writing characters and their thoughts related to those kanji, aiming to create a space where participants can share the meaning of writing words and the impact that act has on humans.
In modern society, where globalization and technological advancement make diversity more visible and resistance and uncertainty increase, Kasetsu explores the ever-changing relationship between words and humans through the expression of writing, and questions people about them.
Profile image: Photo by Hanabo
Born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1975, Kasetsu lives and works in Tokyo.
She graduated from Ritsumeikan University with a degree in psychology. Since 1992, she has dedicated herself to the art of single-character calligraphy, holding solo exhibitions that explore the profound depth with in a single stroke.
Her journey into calligraphy began in childhood, when she first encountered the work of Shizuka Shirakawa, a renowned scholar of East Asian characters, and became fascinated by the origins and evolution of Chinese characters. At the same time, she was profoundly influenced by the avant-garde calligraphy movement that emerged in postwar Japan, where the bold gestures of Abstract Expressionism intertwined with traditional calligraphic forms.
Through her research into hieroglyphics——the primal forms of Chinese
characters, said to have been created over 3,300 years ago——Kasetsu delves into the timeless essence of humanity. Her works transcend mere symbols, questioning the very nature of language, one of the fundamental forces shaping our modern world.
Each of her creations is tailored to a theme, expressed through single Chinese characters rendered in diverse materials. Her approach dissolves the boundaries between traditional calligraphy and contemporary world.
Beyond her artistic practice, Kasetsu finds deep meaning in engaging with others through workshops, where single-character writing becomes a shared act of exploration. Within these gatherings, she listens to particpants’ reflections on a single Chinese character and the act of writing, cultivating a space where the power of words and their influence on human experience can be rediscovered.
In an era where globalization and technological progress have amplified both diversity and division, Kasetsu uses the writing single Chinese characters, rich with layered meanings in Japanese as a means of navigating the shifting relationship between language and humanity. Through her work, she invites the viewers to pause and engage in a dialogue with words——an ever-changing bridge between past and present, self and other.
Profile credit：Photo by Kabo
Wah Sit _CV
