Aoi Yamaguchi’s childhood dream was to become a novel writer. Years later, she indeed took to writing, but in a different sort of way. The Japanese artist is known for her calligraphy art which she has performed and exhibited in galleries, museums, universities, and festivals in the United States, across Europe, and in Japan.
Born and raised in Hokkaido, Japan, Yamaguchi has been trained to master the basics of calligraphy by learning under the Master Zuiho Sato since at the age of 6, while refining her knowledge and skills. “I grew up in small towns in the countryside of Hokkaido, surrounded by beautiful nature,” she recalled in an interview with The Design Kids. “I started to read and write around age 3. I loved drawing, writing stories, crafts, anything to do with paper, paints, pencils and pens, glue, playing piano, using my hands. I loved exploring the woods, hiking in the mountains, walking into the river, playing with snow.”
While exploring, she’d come up with stories, and write them down in notebooks at home. “Around 5-6 years old, I made a series of picture books with my illustrations and my little fantasy stories; about this bear exploring the forest, flying on the cloud, traveling around the world,” she said. “I remember bringing the book I made to the calligraphy school and showing it to Master Sato. My childhood dream was to become a novel writer.”
Her current works show her exploration in juxtaposing the traditional Eastern classics and her contemporary artistic expressions, as well as her unique ambition of transforming two-dimensional art of Japanese Calligraphy into the art of physical expression through performances.
Currently residing in Berkeley, California, Yamaguchi continues her work on her conceptual calligraphy installations, exhibitions, and performances as she continues to push the boundaries of traditional Eastern classics and contemporary artistic expression.
Prepare to be wowed.
