Kasetsu
Calligraphy
KASETSU
Born in Kyoto Prefecture in 1975. Lives in Tokyo. Graduated from Ritsumeikan University, Department of Philosophy, Psychology major. Has been holding solo exhibitions focusing on single-character calligraphy since 1992. When he started learning calligraphy as a child, he encountered a Chinese-Japanese dictionary created by East Asian character culture researcher Shirakawa Shizuka, and became interested in the origin and formation of Chinese characters. He was also greatly influenced by the avant-garde calligraphy that emerged in Japan after World War II, which was formed through interaction with Abstract Expressionism. While deepening his consideration of pictographs, the original form of Chinese characters that are said to have been created about 3,300 years ago, Kasetsu continues to produce works that look at the timeless essence of human beings and question the nature of language, one of the major elements that shape human society. These works are expressed with various materials according to the theme, and attempt to fuse calligraphy and art, including exhibitions in various forms and methods. In parallel with his production, he also holds ongoing workshops on writing single-character Chinese characters with people living in various social environments. In the workshop, by listening to the participants' thoughts about the act of writing and the kanji characters, we strive to create a place where participants can share the meaning of humans writing words and what this act affects humans. In today's society, where diversity is made visible by globalization and technology develops, but at the same time, resistance and uncertainty increase, Kasetsu uses the expression of writing to explore the ever-changing relationship between words and humans, and poses questions to people.
CV
展覧会
2012 「水と土の芸術祭」（北方文化博物館別館、新潟）
2015 「高橋龍太郎コレクション展——メッセージズ」（十和田市現代美術館、青森）
2016 「山形ビエンナーレ」（東北芸術工科大学／旧西村写真館、山形）
2018 「生命の樹」（ヴァンジ彫刻庭園美術館、静岡）
2018 「Kasetsu in Conversation with Rosetsu」（Museum Rietberg、チューリッヒ）
2021 「ことばのかたち かたちのことば」（神奈川県民ホールギャラリー、横浜）
2021 「ASIA NOW」（Galerie ANTHOLOGIE、パリ）
2022 「生命の花」（ヴァンジ彫刻庭園美術館、静岡）
2023 「高橋龍太郎コレクション展―ART de チャチャチャ」（WHAT MUSEUM、東京）
2024 「高橋龍太郎コレクション展——カンヴァスの併走者たち」（山形美術館、山形）
同年「高橋龍太郎コレクション展——日本現代美術私観」（東京都現代美術館、東京）など。
刊行物に、『静物画－篆刻ノート－』（2001年、平凡社）、『石の遊び』（2003年、平凡社）、雑誌「アイデア」特別付録『枕と燈台』（2003年、誠文堂新光社）、『書の棲処』（2006年、赤々舎）、『ATO 跡』（between the books、2009）。2015年、2019年には『ベストエッセイ』（光村図書）にエッセイが収録。
他に、『コレクション 戦争×文学』（集英社）、『木の戦い』（エクリ）をはじめ、書籍の題字も多数手がける。