Japanese Calligraphy Kana Shodо̄: The ‘Women Hand’ Kana Characters and Empowerment of Women
JAPAN SEASON 2021
Part of the Humanities Cultural Programme, one of the founding stones for the
future Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.
This event is supported by the Bagri Foundation
Japanese Calligraphy Kana Shodо̄: The ‘Women Hand’ Kana Characters and Empowerment of Women
Lecture and Workshop
Tuesday 19 October 2021, 2pm-5pm
Women’s empowerment and the fourth-wave feminism in the 21st century is gaining steam by social media and new communication methods. However, it is not widely known that there was an era in Japan a millennium ago, when women enjoyed their freedom by expressing and sharing their ideas freely with new communication tools they acquired.
Kaoru Akagawa is a master of traditional Japanese calligraphy, kana shodо̄, and an artist who merges traditional calligraphy with new techniques in a style she’s named ‘kana art’. In this event Kaoru Akagawa reveals the story of kana, or traditional Japanese characters called on’nade (女手) (literally translated ‘women hand’) utilised in kana shodо̄ and its influence on Japanese culture and aesthetic. A workshop on writing traditional kana shodо̄ work will follow this lecture.
Kaoru Akagawa Biography:
www.facebook.com/akagawa.kaoru
Born in Canada, Kaoru Akagawa grew up in the U.S. and Japan, and since 2007 in Europe. Kaoru Akagawa is a contemporary artist and also a master of Japanese calligraphy (kana shodo). Her aim is to revive ancient traditional Japanese syllabary, kana, in modern times with her own style of art, kana art, has been featured in notable media including CNN, The Guardian and BBC Radio.
For a full biography and CV please click here.
Japanese calligraphy artist, Kaoru Akagawa:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/MMeIrnnS9QQ
Find out more about the Japan 2021 – Humanities Cultural Programme here.
With special thanks to the Bagri Foundation for their support for this event.
We are also grateful to the Pitt Rivers Museum for hosting this special event in the Museum.
