Anyone who considers calligraphy a quietly restrained form of expression should see Michiko Isoda in action. She sits on a "zabuton" cushion, loads a brush with ink and, with a sure but delicate hand, raises it vertically above the paper on her desk. She stills her body, concentrates her breathing, then moves to make the first stroke with a slow but powerful exhalation.
Sometimes she moves fast, almost choking with effort and emotion. At others, she rests, quivering with tension and exertion, gathering her energies toward a smoother and more thoughtful freedom of expression.
Every character completed, every idea expressed is a performance in its own right. To see her in action is to witness a dramatic event, a creative happening. "I believe breathing as important to calligraphy as voice production in drama and stretching the body in, say, yoga."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.