Demonstration of Chinese Pictographic Calligraphy by Suizan Mochizuki

• Event Date: Sunday, October 1, 2006
• Time: 2:00 pm (CDT)
• Location: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL
• Cost: Free Admission

• Talk

Suizan Mochizuki is one of the most renowned ancient Chinese Pictographic calligraphers. He has been perfecting his art since 1980 and has exhibited his work in numerous places in Japan, China, and the United States. He has written many articles, published in both newspapers and books, introducing pictographic calligraphy to students of the art. Mr. Mochizuki resides in Tokyo, Japan and spends most of his time creating pieces for his one-man show, held every year at Ginza Shoro, a well-known art gallery in Ginza, Tokyo.

Mr. Mochizuki is an extraordinary master artist of ancient pictography. His body becomes the brush as he executes grand, sweeping strokes on the blank paper. Calligraphy is an art that requires years of dedication and practice. Every element is important: the quality of the ink, the degree of blackness, the style of the brush, the impact of the stroke—all combine to bring the canvas boldly alive. His practiced and assured approach comes from years of study. He communicates through his art—sometimes boldly, exuberantly, passionately and sometimes tenderly, quietly, delicately—to breathe life into the black ink brush paintings, which are based on Chinese character engravings.

Mr. Mochizuki's visit is partially granted by the Frances P. Rohlen Visiting Artists Fund/College of Fine and Applied Arts. His lecture/demonstration is a part of the 2006 year-long celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois. The event is co-sponsored by The Spurlock Museum, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Japan House, College of Fine and Applied Arts, and it is supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.