Three works by Hogyu Kobayashi—a calligrapher renowned for his compelling large-character pieces, who served as supreme adviser to the Mainichi Shodokai (Mainichi Calligraphy Association) and died in 2010 at the age of 85—are on view in the association’s show window on the first floor of the Palaceside Building. They are a selection from “Hogyu Kobayashi Exhibition Commemorating the Centennial of His Birth: The Soul Bursts Forth! Once Again,” held at the Ueno Royal Museum from the 6th through the 12th of this month, and will remain on display through the 16th of next month.
Kobayashi was born in Fukui Prefecture in 1925. He studied under Yukei Teshima, a pioneer of large-character calligraphy and founder of the Independent Calligraphers Association. Deeply drawn to primitive art, he continually sought to bring that interest into “calligraphy of the present.” In 2000 he received the Minister of Education Award at the 52nd Mainichi Calligraphy Exhibition. He also served as chair of the Independent Calligraphers Association, among other posts.
The centennial exhibition this month presented some 50 works, from small pieces to monumental ones. On display here are one large-character work writing the phrase “Gentsu,” together with two modern-poetry calligraphy pieces, including “The People of the House.”