Artists

小山 みづほ Mizuho Koyama

Mizuho Koyama 小山 みづほ

/ EN

小山 みづほ

Mizuho Koyama

F / Tokyo

Calli-Graphiti
New Liberation of Sho

In the East, the history of sho (calligraphy) has been passed down unbroken since ancient times. The magnificent restrictions backed up by the history of this art-form are so binding that new expressions transcending the framework of sho are rarely generated.
Up to now, only a few creators derived from Japanese sho, such as Yu-ichi INOUE and Toko SHINODA, have been recognized on the global art scene. But today, we are witnessing the emergence of a new liberator of sho who creates an original world while employing an innova- tive style different from those of her predecessors. The name of this artist is Mizuho KOYAMA.
She devoted herself for many years to the study of calligraphy under a teacher who placed a high value on traditional sho. Subsequently, in the course of her exploration of her own expressions, she has eagerly read, listened to and paid close attention to a variety of things including poems and stories in order to absorb them, a practice that has eventually enabled her to make three innovations.
Her first innovation has been to make use of poetry in English and other types of alphanumeric writing that people all over the world can read.Secondly, she has incorporated factors taken from the free graffiti that grew up on the streets of New York, which can be regarded as the extreme opposite from traditional sho with its rigid rules of character expression. Thirdly, she has ingeniously harmonized on paper the classics and techniques of sho that she has learned with the two innovations above to establish her original style of expression.
At the core of these three successful innovations is her grand wish to create works that touch the conscience and aesthetic sense shared by people around the world deep in their hearts beyond the borders of nationality, religion and the era—a wish that she expresses in simple black and white.

  • Solo Exhibition
  • Group Exhibition
  • Other
2022

Drawing Now Art Fair (Paris / France)

2019

DRAWING ROOM MADRID (Madrid / Spain)
LA ART SHOW (Los Angeles / U.S.A)

2018

CALLI-GRAPHITI (Galleria Cart / Monza / Italy)

2016

Mizuho Koyama Solo Exhibition (Frederic Harris Gallery / Tokyo)
CALLI-GRAPHITI (AVAGallery / Helsinki / Finland)

2015

LA ART SHOW (Los Angeles / U.S.A)

2013

Mizuho Koyama Solo Exhibition (ARTIFACT / New York / U.S.A.)
Mizuho Koyama Solo Exhibition (Kyukyodo Gallery / Tokyo)

2012

Eternity in an Hour (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)

2010

Mizuho Koyama Solo Exhibition (Gallery6 / Tokyo)
Mizuho Koyama –A New Calligraphy- (Sundari Fine Art / Saratoga / U.S.A.)

2008

Koyama Mizuho Solo Exhibition (Gallery6 / Tokyo)

2006

Koyama Mizuho Solo Exhibition (Gallery Takuto / Tokyo)

2004

Koyama Mizuho Exhibition (IKEDAYA Gallery / Tokyo) Since1991

1989

Koyama Mizuho Exhibition (OZU Gallery / Tokyo)

2024

PASSION JAPON (La Sucrière, Lyon / France)

2022

Expo I Love Japan (Liège / Belgium)
SUMI_ISM #8 (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)

2021

EXPOSITION COMMÉMORATION FUKUSHIMA – MARS 2021 (Liège / Belgium)

2019

Encre Noire Soleil Levant ( L'ARBRE A PLUMES / Brussels / Belgium)

2017

JAPAN IN BLACK AND WHITE (ESH GALLERY / Milan / Italy )

2016

SUMI_ISM #6 (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)
GRAYSCALE WONDERLAND Ⅱ(bg Gallery / Los Angeles / U.S.A)

2015

GRAYSCALE WONDERLAND(bg Gallery / Los Angeles / U.S.A)
Gallery 6 Exhibition [2 Artists exhibition] (Gallery 6 / Tokyo)
SUMI_ISM #5 (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)

2014

Gallery 6 Exhibition [2 Artists exhibition] (Gallery 6 / Tokyo)
SUMI_ISM #4 (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)

2013

BOX and The INSIDE [3 Artists exhibition] (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)
SUMI_ISM #3 (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)
Akasawa Sumi Art Exhibition (Hayakawacho / Yamanashi)

2012

KAKEJIKUTEN (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)
SUMI_ISM #2 (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)
Exposicion de Kakejiku (Centro Cultural e Informativo de la Embajada del Japón / Argentine)

2011

COLLABOLATION EXHIBITION (Gallery6 / Tokyo)
SUMI_ISM #1 (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)

2009

Contemporary Art of Japan Exhibition (Cultural Center in the Embassy of Japan / russels)
Japan Premier Exhibition (Gallery KITAI / Tokyo)
GAENKAI Calligraphy Exhibition (Central Art Museum / Tokyo) Since1998

2004

SHOSOUIN Calligraphy Exhibition (YASUDA SEIMEI Hall / Tokyo) Since1969

1986

The Women's Exhibition of Master's Selection (MATSUZAKAYA Ueno / Tokyo)

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