BIGEI

SHUMOKU GALLERY is pleased to present a new exhibition of works by Shoen Tominaga (b. 1929), his first solo show in two years.

Born in Aichi Prefecture, Tominaga studied calligraphy from a young age. While still in his teens, he encountered Jackson Pollock’s action painting and began producing avant-garde works early in his career. In 1951, at the age of 22, he joined the avant-garde calligraphy magazine Bokujin from its founding, invited by the renowned Morita Shiryu, and began publishing many abstract works as a member of the Nagoya circle.

In 1955, Tominaga exhibited at the Genbi Exhibition in Osaka, where he was deeply influenced by Gutai artists such as Jiro Yoshihara, Kazuo Shiraga, and Sadamasa Motonaga. The following year, he participated in the Neo-Calligraphy Exhibition in San Francisco alongside other Bokujin members. His thought was shaped by encounters with significant figures like Isamu Noguchi, Saburo Hasegawa, and Shinichi Hisamatsu, leading to a practice that transcended calligraphy. He forged connections with artists from various fields both in Japan and internationally, and has remained active across a wide range of disciplines.

Around 1957, Tominaga left the Bokujin-kai and chose not to affiliate with any particular calligraphy group thereafter, continuing instead to exhibit in cities such as Nagoya, Tokyo, and New York. Since around 1985, his work has increasingly moved away from literal character expression, incorporating the sensibilities of calligraphy into stainless steel sculptures and mixed-media paintings using sumi ink and crayons.

In 2017, his works were featured at art fairs in Los Angeles and Tokyo. This current exhibition will showcase approximately 40 works, both large and small, created using his distinctive method: after days of envisioning a form, he renders it in a single, explosive burst using sumi ink.

Now 88 years old, Shoen Tominaga continues to explore the essential elements of contemporary art, drawing on influences from diverse movements throughout history while maintaining a forward-looking creative vision. We invite you to experience the powerful new works of this singular artist.