There is a modern painting/calligraphy exhibition. The work is by Toko Shinoda - she's 90 years old and says she's still in her experimental stage. She paints with sumi ink on handmade paper. She learned traditional calligraphy as a child, but didn't like the stifling conventions and started creating her own style. My dad started crying when he entered the room.
Why did your dad start crying? What kind of mood was there at the exhibition?
I saw some posters in the trains on Modern Dolls .. looked interesting.
Wow ! 90-years old? The woman's work is extremely powerful. Impresive stuff.
Posted by: Gem Stevens at March 31, 2003 09:56 AMYeah, the paintings were powerful. Very simple but they demanded your attention. A bit too edgy for my taste, but blew my dad out of the water. I think it's because of the intense energy of this amazing woman was radiating from each work.
Posted by: Mie at March 31, 2003 12:58 PMI got to meet Ms. Shinoda a couple of years ago -- she's absolutely wonderful. She radiates this kind of creative energy that makes you realize you're standing next to someone very special. (If I hadn't known better, I would have guessed her to be in her late fifties, or early sixties.)
Tuttle has published a book of her work by Mary and Norman Tolman, which you can pick up at the Tolman Collection, which is a gallery in Daimon, near Zojoji. (They had a gallery in Omotesando, but I don't think that location is still open.)
The Daimon gallery is a great place to go on a Saturday, but it's a little hard to find. It's in a little traditional house down a small street.
They have a room of Toko Shinoda prints there. (I think they are the only ones representing her.)
Jim
Jim,
The Daimon gallery sounds wonderful. I love old houses. Next time I see you, I'll have to get directions to it. I can only imagine what an amazing woman Shinoda-san is. I think the secret to staying young is allowing creativity to flow and to enjoy yourself. She's got it, ne.
Posted by: Jim at April 3, 2003 03:08 PM