AOI YAMAGUCHI CALLIGRAPHY

Category: Calligraphy

  • “SEASONS” Japanese Calligraphy Workshop Summer 2021 at Tortoise General Store in Venice, California

    “SEASONS” Japanese Calligraphy Workshop Summer 2021 at Tortoise General Store in Venice, California

    [vc_row][vc_column][rs_image_block align=”align-center” image_link=”yes” image=”7649″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fshop.tortoisegeneralstore.com%2Fproducts%2Faoi-calligraphy-workshop%3Fvariant%3D40200016855215″ margin_top=”15px” margin_bottom=”30px”][vc_column_text text_color=”#000000″ letter_spacing=”1px”]

    “SEASONS” Japanese Calligraphy Workshop Summer 2021
    at Tortoise General Store

    [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I’m very excited to announce my upcoming calligraphy workshop at Tortoise General Store (@tortoisegeneralstore) this summer! It’s been a long overdue since I taught in-person workshop last. This will be my first group workshop to teach since I moved here in Venice, CA. I’m going to teach two sessions, for an intimate sized group of adults and kids, of my “Seasons” series – that focuses on the beauty of nature, and the seasonal transitions we go through captured in poetry. I’m so grateful and excited to share this “Seasons” series and the beauty of Japanese calligraphy in an intimate setting with our favorite Tortoise General Store here in Venice!

    During this unique hands-on workshop, I will be introducing classic haiku poems themed for summer. Participants will practice the chosen kigo (seasonal word) on regular hanshi paper first, inspired by some haikus introduced during the session, and then write on a blank Japanese uchiwa fan as a final piece for a little souvenir to take home!

    You will learn and practice basic Japanese calligraphy “Shodo” skills, through the meditative calligraphy process finding the balance between the mind and body. We will go over the basics: how to hold the brush and control the brush, proper posture, how to take care of tools and materials, getting to know with Japanese paper and Sumi inks.

    The workshop for kids will take place outside and is limited to 3 participants, ages 6 to 15.  The workshop for adults will take place inside and is limited to 5 participants.

    Date and Time:

    Kid’s Workshop
    Saturday July 31st, 2021
    10:30 am – 12:30 pm

    Adult Workshop
    Sunday August 1st, 2021
    9:30 am – 11:30 am

    Location:
    Tortoise General Store – 12701 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90066

    Materials:
    All calligraphy supplies and materials will be provided for you to work on Japanese calligraphy during the workshop.  Price of supplies included with the workshop fee.

    Limited seats. Please register here:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”MORE DETAILS & REGISTRATION HERE” style=”classic” shape=”square” color=”inverse” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fshop.tortoisegeneralstore.com%2Fproducts%2Faoi-calligraphy-workshop%3Fvariant%3D40200016855215″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 拓 – Cultivate – New Year 2021

    拓 – Cultivate – New Year 2021

    「拓」(hiraku) – cultivate / pave the way –

    Happy New Year!

    On New Year’s Day, the sky was clear – my family and I went to a state park for a morning hike, took a deep breath overlooking the coastline of Santa Monica to Venice, and renewed my spirit for the New Year.

    Kakizome, the New Year calligraphy, is traditionally held on January 2nd in the solar calendar. This year as well, following the tradition, I drew water on the New Year’s Day to prepare Wakamizu (若水 – the first water drawn from the well on New Year’s Day) and rubbed the Sumi ink, and I wrote a piece with the intention of bracing my mind and body.

    My character for the new year calligraphy “Kakizome” for 2021 is 「拓」(hiraku), which means to cultivate, or to pave the way. From the last year’s resolution「歩」(ayumu), we as a family have walked together a long but magical way, hand in hand. I want this year to be the year we cultivate, nurture and explore further, even it may feel challenging at times. I want to keep challenging myself to find new expressions, and most importantly, to *enjoy* the changes — in the environment, in our daily life, in the society, and the world.

    *

    新年開けましておめでとうございます。

    元日は家族で州立公園へハイクに行き、サンタモニカ・ベニスの海岸線を見下ろす小高い山の上で深呼吸、快晴の朝の清々しさに心洗われる思いで新年への心意気を新たにして来ました。

    新暦1月2日に行う、書初め。今年も、伝統に倣い、元日に汲んで一日お供えした若水で墨を擦り、身も心も引き締める思いで一字したためました。

    今年の一字は、「拓」。

    去年の「歩」で、家族で手を取り合って歩み進めてきた道を、今年は更に開拓していきたい。制作活動も、心地よいリズムを探りながら、また今までにない表現を探求していきたい。新しい環境も、日々の変化も、変動する世界も、新たな繋がりも、楽しんでゆけるように。

    今年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

  • 歩 (Ayumi) -steps- : New Year 2020

    歩 (Ayumi) -steps- : New Year 2020

    歩 (Ayumi) – steps –

    We welcomed the new year 2020 in my hometown in snowy Hokkaido, and finally I had a moment to hold my brush with a little help from my family. My character for the new year calligraphy “kakizome” for this year is 「歩」(Ayumi).

    Last year, as we welcomed a new addition to our family, I jumped into a new stage of life that embraced new challenges as a mother, as a wife, and as an artist. This year, we are expecting a whole new chapter with big changes to come. New environment, new encounters, new culture, scenery, the sun and the air — Just how my baby boy is making baby steps in his growth day by day, we are making small progress every day. I hold my baby’s adorable tiny hand as he drift off into his slumber, and my heart is filled with so much love and warmth, and excitement for many steps we walk together in our lives, hand in hand.

    I look forward to share this path I walk together with you, anywhere we go in the world.

  • In the Rhythm of Life

    In the Rhythm of Life


    Unibirth

    Sounds of the Earth.
    Breathing of my child.
    Heartbeat of mine.

    All in the rhythm of life.

     

    _

    Photo by May Xiong

    _

    Our first child. Growing day by day inside of me, aspiring to see the world. I wanted to memorize this precious moment of our lives. I immediately thought of my friend May Xiong to take my maternity photos. May and I did a conceptual photo shoot together back in September 2012, inspired by the theme of one of my projects, unibirth. Unibirth, a conceptual performance with music and dance I did in San Francisco in 2012, celebrates the reincarnation of lives that exist in nature and signifies the infinite cycle of the universe. When I started to contemplate on the idea of my maternity photo shoot, I felt that my pregnancy embodies the concept of “unibirth” in real life; I had visions of myself wrapped in the fabric I painted during the performance, standing somewhere in a tranquil forest, embracing the moment of the awakening of a new life.

    May kindly accepted my wish for this maternity photo shoot, and flew in from Seattle. May and I celebrated our reunion after 6 years, and revisited wonderful memories together. My husband Ben, May and I into the woods, trying to find a magical spot for the shoot in the morning of June 16th. I could only walk so slowly on the hilly path, carrying so much weight in this belly. The air was so fresh, smell of lush green and ambient light of the morning through the woods soothed me during the hike. I could feel my baby moving, kicking and hiccuping, as if he’s also enjoying the power of nature.

    This photo was taken during the 34th week of my pregnancy, one day before my birthday in Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, California.

     

  • Atelier Towa will be closed while on Maternity Leave

    Atelier Towa will be closed while on Maternity Leave

     

    Atelier Towa will be closed for all commissions, lessons, and workshops while on maternity leave from July 1st, as I am expecting our first baby in late July, until I find good balance in my motherhood.

    In the past 7 months, it has been a wonderful journey teaching lessons and workshops as I feel my baby grow in my belly — meeting new faces, and seeing wonderful progress in some of the dedicated students. Seeing you all grow encourages me to grow to be a better teacher, artist and an individual — we all grow together. Looking forward to seeing everyone again once I get back to practice!

    Please check back on our website later this year, for any updates and announcements for new projects and workshops. I will make an announcement when I decide to resume my practice and start taking projects. It is important to me and my family to cherish this precious time together. In the meantime, please feel free to follow me on instagram at @aoi_gm, I’ll be sharing my new journey with our baby from time to time!

    For all inquiries (commissions, performances, workshops, lessons…), please contact us later in the fall. Please excuse me for any delay in response in advance!

    Thank you for your support and much love,

    Aoi Yamaguchi

  • Talk & Workshops at -ING Creative Festival, Dubai 2018

    Talk & Workshops at -ING Creative Festival, Dubai 2018

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    I’m excited to announce my upcoming talk and workshops at -ing Creative Featival in Dubai, UAE this April from the 11th – 13th, 2018.

    I will be teaching two workshop sessions, April 11th and 13th at 10:40am – 12:40pm.
    I will be giving a talk on April 11th at 13:50 – 14:10. For more details and registration, please visit here.

    In celebration of Internatinal Women’s Day, -ingcratives is having a special promotion on female-led workshops, with discount on tickets for 7 days from March 8th until the 14th. Get your tickets while the offer lasts at ingcreatives.com

    Looking forward to seeing you all in Dubai!

     

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  • Immersive & Interactive Installation at Artechouse, Washington DC

    Immersive & Interactive Installation at Artechouse, Washington DC

    Long-awaited Spring has come! This March, my calligraphy is going to be part of the Immersive & interactive digital art installation titled “SAKURA YUME” (Cherry Blossom Dream) at Artechouse, the first innovative art space in Washington DC. Artechouse created this new immersive & interactive art piece in collaboration with NOIRFLUX, StoryLab Inc., Nathan Solomon, Big Bright Monster, as part of the Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival. I’m excited to be part of and see how my calligraphy is going to play a role in this dreamy, immersive experience. Premiere on March 15th.

    SAKURA YUME / CHERRY BLOSSOM DREAM
    Immersive & Interactive Art
    Exhibition: March 15 – May 6+
    Daily 10am – 10pm
    Tickets: $8-15 for All Ages

    ARTECHOUSE
    1238 Maryland Ave AW, Washington, DC 20024
    artechouse.com

  • 風花 – Snow Flurries in the Wind

    風花 – Snow Flurries in the Wind

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    風花   kazahana
    – Flurries in the Wind –

    On the last night of January.
    In a slumber listening to the lullaby of the city lights, dreaming of the snow flurries in Munich.
    I wish flurries of words would fall like snowfall on a night like this.
    Snow flurries fell into my palms and melted, before I was able to remember the shapes of each one of them.
    And the snow crystals changed into the rain as I was reminiscing.
    Words all disappeared, while I was busy recording.
    I just had to feel the moment, and not remember the moment.

    睦月最後の夜
    都会の光に包まれて、微睡みながら思い出す
    ミュンヘンの風花

    無数の風花が降るのと同じ速度で
    無数の言葉が降ってきたらいいのに

    風花は手の中で溶けてなくなって
    形を思い出そうとすると雨に変わっていった
    書き留めた言葉は紙面から離れて消えていった[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][rs_gallery column=”2″ images=”6953,6954″][rs_space height=”50px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Hello Munich! Talk at Beyond Tellerrand Munich 2018

    Hello Munich! Talk at Beyond Tellerrand Munich 2018

    [vc_row][vc_column][rs_image_block align=”align-center” image_link=”yes” image=”6845″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fbeyondtellerrand.com%2Fevents%2Fmunich-2018|||”][rs_space height=”45px”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][rs_image_block align=”align-center” image_link=”yes” image=”6844″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fbeyondtellerrand.com%2Fevents%2Fmunich-2018|||”][rs_space height=”45px”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I’m excited to announce that I was invited to give a talk at Beyond Tellerrand, a creative conference that brings diverse range of speakers together this year. Their events take place in Berlin, Düsseldorf and for the first time in Munich from this year, which I was invited to be part of. The Munich event is right around the corner, from January 15th to 17th in Munich with an exciting line-up of speakers from various fields: designers, scientists, authors, educators, artists in visual communication design, web design, data sciences, web architect and developers, and art like myself. You can check the line-up of speakers here.

    Looking forward to visit Munich for the first time, and share my stories about Japanese calligraphy![/vc_column_text][rs_space height=”25px”][symple_heading title=”EVENT DETAILS” type=”h3″ style=”dotted-line” font_size=”25px”][vc_column_text]Beyond Tellerrand
    January 15 – 17, 2018
    Website: beyondtellerrand.com

    Speakers include…:
    Dina Amin, Nadieh Bremer,
    Robin Christopherson, Simon Collison,
    Carla Diana, Vitaly Friedmann, Christian Heilmann,
    Mark Robbins, Harry Roberts,
    Stefan Sagmeister, Sara Soueidan,
    Marcy Sutton, Aoi Yamaguchi

    Workshops: Monday, January 15
    @ Microsoft Deutschland
    Walter-Gropius-Straße 5
    80807 München
    microsoft.com/de-de

    Talks: Tuesday, January 16 – 17
    @ Münchener Künstlerhaus
    Lenbachplatz 8
    80333 München
    kuenstlerhaus-muc.de

    >> My Talk: Tuesday, January 16 2018  19:30- <<

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  • 「織」-WEAVE- New Year’s Greetings 2018

    「織」-WEAVE- New Year’s Greetings 2018

     

    「織」-Weave-

    一本一本丁寧に心を込めて糸を織り込むように
    一人一人との繋がりをたいせつに
    一糸一糸が重なり合い、鮮やかな文様が描かれてゆく
    そうして織りなされるひとつの織物のように
    柔らかくしなやかに、強い芯を持って
    私らしい模様を織っていく。

    Incorporating the yarn with care one by one
    Is like connecting the paths with you, and new you
    Each line overlaps and a vivid pattern is drawn
    Like a fabric woven in an unique texture
    Soft and supple, but with strength
    I will weave my own pattern, with you.

    Wishing you and yours peace and light in 2018.

    一緒に素敵な模様を、織っていけますように。

     皆様に平穏と光ある幸多き一年となりますようお祈り申し上げます。
    本年もどうぞ宜しくお願いいたします。