Kuusho Inoue

Born in Osaka City, Kuusho Inoue has been interested in learning about novel ways of hand craftsmanship, which naturally led her to practice calligraphy. Among the various styles, she devoted herself to Bokusho, or contemporary calligraphy. It enables self-expression more than traditional calligraphy. She creates both legible and illegible pieces. On a piece of paper she transforms her overflowing emotions into dots and lines. This process is done with great care by various tools, in addition to the conventionally important instruments of calligraphy, such as ink stone, paper and brush. Her originality comes from the use of sumi (black) ink, acrylic and rock color paint, cardboard paper, and a wooden stick as a “brush” to draw her lines.

No matter what she uses, she is a perfectionist who seeks to create ideal calligraphic lines.She believes that calligraphic art consists of impromptu and unreproducible lines. While some powerful and sublime art can intimidate its audience, Kuusho’s art gently invites people to her poetic world. Her calligraphic pieces are pleasant to appreciate, where her lines and remaining blank space exist in harmony to leave long-lasting resonance.

Since receiving a commendation award in 2002 from Toyo Shogeiin, a contemporary calligraphic organization, she received awards for five consecutive years, and was even awarded a grand prize in 2009. She now serves as Toyo Shogeiin’s executive director. She also received consecutive awards in 2016 from Sankei Kokusai Shokai, an international calligraphy organization, and was even awarded a Special Encouragement prize, becoming a screening member in 2021.

In 2019, she held her first solo exhibition titled “playing music in calligraphy” in Osaka. Since 2020, she has participated in numerous exhibitions overseas and in Japan, including JCAT NY and MILANO. She also got commissioned to create all the decorative frames for the newly built funeral hall.

井上空咲は、大阪市出身。幼少期から、未知の事を体得するのに興味があり、書もその一つ だった。また、物を創作するのも得意で、書のジャンルの中でもスタイルにとらわれない墨象の世界にのめり込んだのも自然なことだった。墨象は、伝統書と違い、自由な造形表現の世界。彼女の場合は、文字性と非文字性の２つのアプローチで制作。紙面に対峙する時、溢れ出る感情を文字の姿を借り、点と線にのせて表現していく。また、用具・用材は墨・紙・筆以外の物も使用するのが特徴的で、墨とアクリル・岩絵の具とのフュージョン、ボール紙や木の枝でさえも筆となり、独自の線質を表現。だが、どのような物を使用しても、線を引くという事にこだわる。書き直しのきかない線の芸術―それが書であると考えるからだ。作品には、圧倒的な迫力で寄せ付けないもの、逆に、その中へ引き込むものがあるが、彼女の作品は後者であり、線と余白が響き合い、心地よく観る者を捉えて離さない空咲の世界が、そこにある。

2002年東洋書芸院公募展の推薦受賞後、５年連続受賞、2009年大賞受賞を経て、現在、常任理事に就任。産経国際書会公募展では2016年より連続受賞し、2021年無鑑査会員特別奨励賞を受賞、審査会員となる。2019年、初個展「書で奏でる」（大阪）を開催。2020年以降、JCAT NYをはじめMILANOなど海外・国内のギャラリー企画展に多数参加。また、新築メモリアルホールの館内飾額をすべて担当する。