The Triangle

Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Michael Arrison

Think back to learning the alphabet as a child. Remember how daunting it was to have to learn 26 letters? Imagine learning 2000. That is how many characters must be memorized in order to be literate in Japan. Chukin Takagi, a master calligrapher and currently a guest of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design's Graphic Design program, has learned a vast amount more. Her knowledge of Japanese letterform is expansive, reaching into forms of the past and the many different ways to express emotion through her work. Takagi grew up in Hirosaki, Japan where at a very young she began studying Shodo, a way of scripting. Since then she gained a graduate degree in Shodo at the Japanese Shodo Education Association and won three Amori Provine awards. In 2006, Takagi became the director of the northern Shodo Institute in Hirosaki. She teaches many students ranging in age from seven to seventy-eight.

On Feb. 19, a demonstration of her work was presented to Drexel students and faculty. Janice Merendino, the founder and director of "The Branch Out Project," gave an introduction and history of Japanese calligraphy to aid the understanding of Takagi's prestigious creations. Merendino first spoke of Takagi's teaching of expressive typography with Drexel Graphic Design students. She praised Takagi's dedication to Shodo and her gift of teaching.

"It's very obvious in her work in teaching the classes in the past couple of days that she is very interested in sharing with us and connecting us emotionally with the work," Merendino said.

Through Takagi's demonstration, the audience could experience this idea of emotion in her art. The master calligrapher shared her knowledge of Shodo by creating on stage symbols expressed through different styles. This allowed the audience to compare the styles, but more importantly see Takagi as she worked. The artist put her whole self into each piece. With deep concentration and a rhythm to her movement, she created each symbol showing how Shodo is not simply a way of writing but definitely a form of art.

A few times Takagi paused before starting a character to put herself into the right mind frame.

"I consider this a performing art like a musician or an athlete would perform," noted Merendiono. "You can't make mistakes. As you can see, [Takagi] never goes over a brush stroke."

Takagi ended the demonstration by writing the symbol for "dragon" with the emotions she felt when seeing the Drexel Dragon statue. She combined two pieces of paper to mimic the size and splashed ink everywhere in her vigorous process, gaining applause from the audience. Everyone seemed impressed by the artist's gift of transforming the symbols of a foreign language into art.

Her exhibition, "Omoi," translating into "feeling" in Japanese, will be displayed in the Leonard Pearlstein Gallery through March 20. The exhibition is aptly named since she certainly puts a vast amount of feeling into her work. Takagi's dedication and talent is truly laudable. Do not miss a chance to view her work - keep in mind the emotion that was put forth for each creation.

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