Japanese kanji symbols, empty spaces

This is the second part of the interview of Nadja Van Ghelue about the space-empty and space-filled concepts in Japanese calligraphy. Click here for the first part of this art interview.

It's great that we are by the Mediterranean Sea to talk about filled and empty spaces in Japanese calligraphy. It's even better that the sea is rough as we can admire much better the unceasing play of the bright blue waves.

A wave is a combination of movements capable of building a wave. A wave can only materialize if it can disintegrate again. Just when the wave reaches its fullness state, it breaks up by shaping a new wave.

It's the same with Japanese calligraphy. A calligrapher builds kanji symbols in the same way as the sea builds the waves. The different movements of the brush culminate in a calligraphic form.

When your stroke reaches perfection, your brush and ink flow already into the next stroke born out of the last one. Japanese calligraphy kanji symbols are a sequence of natural movements that create a form with internal and external spaces like the waves of the sea.

The emptiness inside the brush is what gives life to the calligraphy strokes. If you press down the brush too hard, it is impossible to shape anything. There is no space, there is no emptiness that can give birth to the calligraphy strokes.

When doing calligraphy, it's essential that there is space, but not only physical space; you need mental space too. The harmonization of the mental and physical aspects creates balanced calligraphy artworks that are genuine.

Visit Nadja's web site for Japanese calligraphy kanji symbols.

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