“Wang Xizhi's Letter” solo exhibition by calligrapher held in Paris

Wang Yizhi was a politician and calligrapher during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (4th century) in China, and was called “Shosei (Shosei).” Modern calligrapher Shakado Takasai, who was fascinated by this great figure in calligraphy history, held a solo exhibition in Paris, France.

Period: 2023/11/3 (Fri) -9 (Thu)
Venue: Galerie Etienne de Causans 25rue de Seine 75006, Paris

‍Saint-Germain-des-Prés, a brand city of wisdom and culture

The venue was the “Étienne de Causanne Gallery”. It is located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, rue de Seine in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The old townscape coexists amidst rows of sophisticated shops, and continues to attract not only top brand designers and celebrities, but also tourists from all over the world.

Meanwhile, Paris is also known for having countless galleries. The rue de Seine is a central area with many famous galleries, and the “École des Beaux-Arts (École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts)” is also nearby. Cafes and churches are also decorated with art, and there is no shortage of art fans, tourists, and people involved in art visiting galleries.

The “Étienne de Causanne Gallery” is among them, and it is one of the famous galleries.

The great influence left in the history of calligraphy and continued respect

Wang Yizhi's calligraphy style is soft and has moderate intonation, and is characterized by flowing beauty and dignity. The square characters up until then were changed, and they had a lot of influence on future generations.

The “Seventeen Chapters,” a compilation of 29 letters written by Wang Xizhi to his family and friends, is still loved as a model for calligraphy even now, after more than 1600 years. Shakado Takasai is one of them. I continue to draw “Seventeen Chapters” over and over again, and I also satisfy myself by tracing Wang Xizhi's warm feelings in detail, such as kindness, modesty, and curiosity for his family.

Expert comments

“What I like about Shakado's work is that you can feel her subtlety from her handwriting. Even if I don't understand the meaning of the letters themselves, the movement of her heart is conveyed.”

The person who made this comment was art history professor and art critic Eric Monsanjon. Also, the gallerist and owner, Étienne de Causin XII, left the following words in her comments.

“I learned that she began doing calligraphy in earnest in 2018, and I'm surprised that she has demonstrated her proficiency in this art style in just a few years. (...) The very impressive overall picture woven by the work is probably the first time visitors will encounter it.”

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In this solo exhibition, the warm feelings of Wang Yizhi, who were traced, were conveyed to people living in Paris today, including brushstrokes and details of the exterior. Time to exchange hearts that transcends language barriers and cultural differences flowed through the streets of Paris, the city of art.