Tohun Kobayashi
Tohun Kobayashi was born in Tokyo in 1961. He
learned calligraphy from his mother who was a calligraphy teacher. He became
acquainted with "suiboku-ga" ink painting in his senior high school
days. During associations with famous Chinese artists, he was impressed by
Chinese ink paintings, calligraphy and "tenkoku" seal engravings.
After obtaining an opportunity to make wall paintings at the "Japanese
Fine Arts Exhibition" in Paris in 1987, he drew wall paintings in China, Indonesia,
and the USA and earned high acclaim in these countries. In 1992, he gave a
one-man calligraphy exhibition at the Museum of Chinese History in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Japan-China friendship.
Later, impressed by traditional Japanese ink drawings, he engaged in painting
walls of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Besides engaging in creative
activities using the internet, Mr. Kobayashi made a commercial video film
entitled "Giant of Suiboku-ga". He has written many books, including
"Drawing in lnk". Exploring the possibility of new ink Painting
techniques, he is energetically engaged in activities in various fields. He is
a standard-bearer of Japanese ink painting on whom great expectation is placed.
Chronology:
1961:
Born in Tokyo.
1987:
"Japanese Fine Arts Exhibition" was held in Paris where he demonstrated ink painting at the International Convention
Hall.
1989:
Went to China to
have his works exhibited at the Asian Exchange Art Exhibition.
1990:
Visited China to
give calligraphy demonstrations at the Art Exhibition to Commemorate
Japan-China Exchange.
1991:
Appointed managing-director of the All Japan Art Exhibition to serve as judge of ink paintings and seal engravings.
1992:
Gave one-man exhibition at the Museum of Chinese History in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
1993:
Completed a wall painting at Jodoji Temple in
Akasaka, Tokyo.
1994:
Visited USA to
comply with a request to give calligraphy demonstrations at "Heart Art
Festival" in Los Angeles.
1995:
Painted an ink drawing to adorn the Panasonic internet home page.
1996:
Production of a CD Jacket cover "Ni-ten-ichi-ryu" for British rock band P H O T E K, released by Virgin Records.
1997
He exhibited 5×9 meter suiboku-ga work on a folding screen, "Sumi-yuu-gen",
at the reception party in honor of the chairman of Merryl Lynch. He gave
a demonstration of suiboku-ga on a folding screen at the same reception.
1998
:A 5×8 mater suiboku-ga was demonstrated at the ''Riddiem & Phuture"
music event, held as part of Festival UK '98.
1999
Gave one-man exhibition at the Tokyo American Club.
2000
He exhibited a 5×8 meter suiboku-ga work on a folding screen, "Four seasons of
Japan'', at the event
in Embassy of Australia. He exhibited a suiboku-ga work, "dream
of Egypt", at the Embassy of Egypt.
2001
＊At the event in Australian embassy ：Performance of Semi-e
painting on a big partitions.
＊At the event in Egyptian embassy ： Demonstration of Semi-e paintings on partitions.
＊At the party of LANCOME ： Demonstration of Sumi-e painting on a
folding screen.
2002
＊ At the reception party of VOLVO : Demonstration of
Sumi-e painting on a big fan.
＊In Morocco palace: A Sumi-e work was
collected by Morocco palace.
＊At Descartes high school in Morocco : Gave
lectures of Sumi-e painting.
2003
＊At the reception party of GM ：Demonstration of Sumi-e painting on a huge folding screen
2004
＊At the Rotary International world
congress in Osaka：Demonstration of Sumi-e painting on a
huge screen.
＊At the event of The Gibraltar Life
Insurance Co., Ltd.: Demonstration of Sumi-e painting on a huge screen
2005
＊In the cruising all round Japan by Mitsui
O.S.K. Passenger Line Ltd: Became the
lecturer of Sumi-e painting .
＊At Kodansha Famous Schools: Became the special
lecturer of Sumi-e painting .
2006
＊At the event of TOYOTA : Demonstration of
Sumi-e painting
＊At the event of establishing COCA-COLA
WEST COMPANY, LIMITED : Demonstration of Sumi-e painting
＊At the motor show in Paris: Demonstration
of Sumi-e painting
2007
＊At the event of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals : Demonstration of Sumi-e painting
2008
＊At the Representative Conference of TOYOTA
: Performance of Sumi-e painting
＊At the dinner party of Asia Business
Council: Demonstration of Sumi-e painting
(His performance work was auctioned for $140,000 in the auction at
this dinner party and this successful bid price was donated to the recovery
support from the disaster caused by a massive cyclone in Vietnam.)
＊At the world conference and dinner of
HINO: Demonstration of Sumi-e painting
＊At the event of Capital service group : Demonstration of Sumi-e painting
＊At the FIFA club World Cup Japan Official
Banquet: Demonstration of Sumi-e painting
2009
＊At the commemorative ceremony in honor of
his Royal Highness Prince Somrap in Thailand: Demonstration
of Sumi-e painting.
2011
＊At the 30th anniversary party of Nike
Japan: Demonstration of Sumi-e painting.
2012
＊At the Japan premiere event of Movie
"Woman of a dragon tattoo": Opening demonstration of Sumi-e painting
＊FM Yokohama : Appered in a program on
radio” FM Yokohama”
＊Received the award of The Minister of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
2013
＊At MUITISHI city painting art museum in
Moscow: Gave a Sumi-e painting exhibition.
＊At MUITISHI city painting art museum: The Sumi-e work "Peony " was
collected and stored.
＊At "The Sesshu Summit” in Hofuku temple, Soja-city ": Performance of
Sumi-e painting on big partitions
2014
＊At the event of American Family Life
Assurance Company of Columbus : Demonstration of Sumi-e
painting
＊At the national conference of Idemitsu
Kosan Co, Ltd: Demonstration of Sumi-e painting
2015
＊At the VIP room in Zendouji temple, which
was designated as a national important cultural asset: Completed
Sumi-e paintings on partitions
＊At Asian creation art exhibition in the
national art center, Tokyo: Won the Top prize
＊At Taipei international calligraphy exhibition:
Displayed a work at the request of the
exhibitor
＊In Russia (Moscow, Muitishi, Ekaterinburugu
and Cheriabinsuku ): Gave demonstrations , lectures and master classes at the
request of Japan Foundation.
＊At the party in honor of the 60th
anniversary of ASAHI logistics Corporation : Performance of Sumi-e painting
＊At the event of Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. event:. Performance
of Sumi-e painting
2016
＊Writing “ How to paint fashionably Sumi-e
painting “ published by Kodansha Co. Ltd
＊Writing“ The beginner’s book of Sumi-e
painting by "brush-pencil" published by Jikei publishing Co. Ltd
＊Managed sumi & color illustrations and
provided Sumi-e illustrations
“Natural food medicine keeps the doctor
away”published by TAKARAJIMASHA,Inc.
2017.
At MANGGHA Museum of Japanese Art and
Technology in Poland: Performance,
lecture and workshops at the museum festival.
2018
*Founder of International SUMI Enthusiasms
Association (ISFA)
* Vice President of Japan Suibokuga Art
Association
*Judge of “NICHIBI exhibition”
2019
*Organizer of The Torch of Asia Exhibition
in The National Art Center, Tokyo
*Awarded with “King of Subokuga” in TV
program “TV Champion KIWAMI”.
Artist's Commentary:
"Suiboku-ga", a form of etching,
has long been loved by the Japanese people. The simplicity of suiboku-ga is
understated, yet inherently impressive. I believe that "sumi", or
black ink, has the power to express human feelings and manifest the changing
beauty of the four seasons. The starkness of the form inspires invisible colors
in the mind.
I hope you enjoy this work.
《ビジネス編へ戻る》 《スクール＆技法講座編へ戻る》
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