| Name: | Blair Shōgen Thomson |
| Time creatively active: | since graduation, Glasgow School of Art 2002 |
| Media + expression: | Shodō calligraphy, Zen teaching and practice, Shakyō Sutra copying, Tenkoku stampmaking, drawing, painting, photography, workshops |
| Research: | MPhil Research Candidate in Japanese Monastic Calligraphy University of Bristol Department of Religion and Theology |
Award for Shodō Calligraphy at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
I am surprised and delighted that my calligraphy artwork has been awarded a Special Selection prize (Tokusen 特選) at the 73rd Shokaisha Exhibition 第73回 書海社展 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, situated inside Ueno Park. The exhibition runs from the 28th January to 2nd February. This annual exhibition of shodо̄ calligraphy features several large rooms of works by contemporary calligraphers, exhibiting various styles and primarily large scale calligraphy.
TRACES OF SHODŌ
Margaret Kerr and Blair Shōgen Thomson
Green Gallery: University of Dundee Botanic Garden
Riverside Drive, Dundee DD2 1QH
30th Nov – 18th Dec 2024
This exhibition shows a series of spontaneous abstract drawings inspired by the flowing and dynamic forms of traditional Japanese Shodō calligraphy, made by Margaret Kerr over the past three years. Alongside these drawings are examples taken from Blair Shōgen Thomson’s regular practice of traditional Shodō. The calligraphy pieces and drawings together describe natural, elemental and poetic themes.
Renga: place and time entwined
5th – 25th November 2023
Green Gallery, Dundee Botanics
This exhibition features work by eight artists who spent an August weekend making art in the Botanics this year.
Our work was inspired by the Japanese concept of Renga. Renga is a form of poetry composed by a group of authors: each contributing their part in a dynamic, unfolding process. It encapsulates the experience of being in a specific place and time.
Exhibition in Japan
Blair participated in the ART/X/TOYAMA international exhibition in Japan in May 2022. ART/X/TOYAMA is a contemporary public exhibition showing artworks from Japanese and international invited artists, and has been held every four years. Blair exhibited a series of twelve photographs as well as two abstract paintings.
