A two-fold screen painted in ink with abstract calligraphy “Garden” by Imaoka Norio ((b.1999).

Sealed Nori; a label on the reverse inscribed ‘En’ (Garden), Imaoka Norio, Kyoto, Bokujinkai; another label inscribed Norio Imaoka, Garten (Garden), 1975 Stellschirm (folding screen).

Japan, 1975.

Exhibited in a travelling exhibitions in Germany.

Published in: Jisen sakuhinshu Imaoka Norio no sho (Calligraphy of Imaoka Norio, selected by the artist), (Japan, 1993).

Imaoka Norio is one of the later-generation artists of the legendary avant-garde calligraphy group Bokujinkai (Society of Ink People), which was originally founded by Morita Shiryū (1912-1998), Inoue Yūichi (1916-1985), Eguchi Sōgen (1919-), Sekiya Yoshimichi (b.1920) and Nakamura Bokushi (dates unknown) in 1952. These artists advocated the emancipation of the calligraphic line away from its traditional form and experimented using unorthodox materials.

Imaoka first studied calligraphy under Ueda Sōkyū (1899-1968) who was a charismatic teacher introducing his talented pupils to the art of avant-garde calligraphy. Meeting with Morita Shiryu in person at one lecture, Imaoka was moved by the striking energy and vision of Morita and his works. Inspired by him, Imaoka moved from Shimane to Kyoto, and became a pupil of Morita. Inheriting the legacy of his maser, Imaoka’s dynamic calligraphic works suggest the interplay between traditional Japanese calligraphy and Euro-American abstract painting. His works were exhibited both in Japan and overseas including Germany and New York.

Great calligraphy works are not so-called skilfully written works. What evokes the power of humans, what manifests one’s way of life – such works are great calligraphy. Just tracing the forms of characters are not a true calligraphy. Express yourself and your life through a brush onto a paper, then we can start talking about the art of calligraphy.(Imaoka Norio, 1995).