Bangalore: To showcase traditional Japanese art, The India Japan Initiative has organised a session on Japanese calligraphy for students of the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat.

Over 50 students attended the session that saw five groups of Japanese artists attempt to bring the "kanji", or characters, to life and endow them with charm in highly individualistic styles. The characters were written only once, without alteration, additions or touch-ups. The workshop gave an insight into Japanese culture and philosophy — integration of the mind, body and spirit. This union is conveyed through the "ki", or universal energy, that flows through brush strokes and creates a work of art.

Elegant

The calligraphy paintings were elegant and powerful in imagery and resonance. The students were in awe of their beauty and got an opportunity to experience the foremost art form of the Orient.

Chairperson of The India Japan Initiative Geetanjali Kirloskar said: "Artistic exchanges are an excellent medium to promote harmony and goodwill at a global level.

This session has served our interest of building cordial relations between Indians and the Japanese."

Principal of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat Suresh Jayaram said: "This is an attempt to create conversations across cultures. Japanese calligraphy has influenced Indian art in the past, and it has been part of the curriculum in visual-art colleges. Japanese calligraphy will help students explore spontaneity, movement and refinement. The students will learn from Japanese experts the art of writing, which has graphic associations."

Skilled penmanship

The word calligraphy is derived from Greek words: `kallos', which indicates beauty, and `graphos', which signifies writing. Calligraphy is the art of making handwriting beautiful and elegant. It is a fine art of skilled penmanship.

Japanese calligraphy, known as "shodo", or "the way of writing", is the art of drawing characters with a brush to express spiritual depth and beauty. It has three basic styles — "kaisho", "gyousho", and "sousho". "Kana" is sometimes considered a fourth style.

Kaisho, a block style with few movements, is also known as "shinsho". "Gyousho" is a median style that is not as stiff as "kaisho" or as sweeping as "sousho". "Sousho" is a flowing style that consists of swift strokes. Its free movement and beauty popularised "sousho" among masters of calligraphy. "Kana" has been developed from the more radical forms of "sousho".

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