Yuichi Inoue
Yuichi Inoue was a Japanese artist known for his vibrant works of calligraphy, having been described as “one of the most distinguished calligraphers in the second half of 20th-century Japan.” He ignored the traditional conventions of sho pioneering an abstract style that reached international recognition. He is most known for his single character pieces that often extend beyond the oversized paper they were created on. Several of his works are displayed in the permanent collection at the National [Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo|National Museum of Modern Art] in Tokyo.
Early life
Inoue was born in Asakusa, Tokyo on February 14, 1916. He graduated from the Tokyo Prefectural Aoyama Normal School.Inoue worked as a primary and junior high school teacher before training under famous calligrapher Sokyu Ueda for eight years. On March 10, 1945, Yuichi Inoue narrowly escaped a U.S. air raid on Tokyo, and experience which he referenced in artworks such as Tokyo-daikūshū.
Art career
Inoue took part in the Third Shodō Geijutsuin exhibition at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. The first exhibition of Inoue’s own works took place in Tokyo in 1951. His art became associated with the abstract expressionism art movement, and appeared in major international exhibitions from the early 1950s. After this he took part in numerous exhibitions both in Japan and abroad, becoming one of the first modern Japanese artists to become popular among Western audiences in the post-war period. His work was represented in the Museum of Modern Art exhibition “Abstract Art - Japan and the USA”, which toured Japan and Europe.In 1952 he created Bokujin-kai with fellow artist friends and served as chief editor of Bokujin, its monthly artistic magazine, until its 50th issue.
Inoue retired in 1976 after working for more than 41 years as a schoolteacher.
He created over 3,000 pieces prior to his death on June 15, 1985.
Death and memorial
Inoue was hospitalised in early June 1985 due to fulminant hepatitis. He fell into a coma on June 7th, and died eight days later on June 15th. A memorial is held annually in remembrance of Inoue on the every second Saturday of June, in front of his artwork, The Tower of Ghosts.Personal life
In 1948, Inoue married Hirai Kikue with whom he had his daughter Hanako in 1951 and son Tōru in 1953.Selected Exhibitions
Inoue has taken part in numerous exhibitions, during his lifetime, both in Japan and around the world. Many retrospective exhibitions of his work have also been held since his death in 1985.1951-1895
Nitten National Exhibition, Inoue’s first exhibition of his own calligraphy in TokyoModern Japanese Calligraphy, Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA Abstract Art – Japan and the USA, National Museum for Modern Art, TokyoL'encre de chine dans la calligraphie et l'art japonais contemporains, a touring exhibition for Amsterdam, Basel, Paris, Hamburg and Rome- “Gutetsu” at the 4th Biennale in São Paulo, Brazil50 ans d'art moderne, Centre for [Fine Arts, Brussels], Belgiumdocumenta 2 in Kassel, Germany6th Biennale, São Paulo and Carnegie International in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USAWriting and Image, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Kunsthalle Baden-Baden, GermanyInoue Yûichi, Von der Heydt Museum, Wuppertal, GermanyModern World Art, National Museum of Modern Art, TokyoYU-ICHI Word Images, UNAC Tokyo, Japan