The art of Japanese calligraphy unfolds itself in time and weaves itself through language and visual form. Although highly regarded outside of Japan, the inner pulse of this art form is often perceived as an unfathomable mystery.

For years, Noriko Maeda’s exhibitions and classes have introduced Canadian audiences to the heartbeat of calligraphy. Her speeches and works have nurtured a vocabulary for expounding the essence of her art. Noriko Maeda Foundations is the culmination of a three-year project to capture the mature form of this vocabulary in the pages of a single book.

This exhibition displays the collection of original works prepared for the publication and explores the broad spectrum of expressive powers harnessed by the calligrapher. In an odyssey through sight, language, and time, the exhibition mirrors the structure of the book, reveals the inner workings of Noriko’s art, and frames a calligrapher’s view on the foundations of Japanese calligraphy.