Fusion of Italian Furniture Art and Innovative Calligraphy Portolona Frau x Shisyu "Shisyu Exhibition: Beyond Traditional Expression

Artill Inc. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Osaka; President: Masanori Miwa) is pleased to announce the opening of “Shisyu: Beyond Traditional Expression”, a solo exhibition by the calligrapher and artist Shisyu, at the flagship store “Poltrona Frau Tokyo Aoyama” (Aoyama, Tokyo) of Poltrona Frau, one of Italy’s leading luxury furniture brands. The exhibition will be held at Poltrona Frau Tokyo Aoyama, the flagship store of Poltrona Frau, a leading luxury furniture brand in Japan.

Event Summary

Shisyu Exhibition: Beyond Traditional Expression

Artist：Shisyu

Period: October 19 (Thursday) – November 7 (Tuesday), 2023

Hours: 11:00 – 19:00, closed on Wednesdays

Venue: Poltrona Frau Tokyo Aoyama

5-2-13 Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

tel: 03-3400-4321

About the Exhibition

This exhibition will present a series of works by Shisyu, who has reconstructed the luxurious interior spaces of the Poltrona Frau, which is also known as “furniture art,” with a new approach based on the theme of “transcending traditional expression. The exhibition will feature a series of works by Shisyu that have been reconstructed with a new cutting edge.

1)Ukiyoe and Shunga, in which ink rubbings float in the air

2) Calligraphy and painting fused together

3) Three dimensional calligraphy that is liberated from the flat surface

4) Calligraphy that continue to change over time

You will be able to see a variety of unique and one-of-a-kind works that only Shisyu could create. The Portolona Frau’s outstanding Artigiano technique, which has been handed down for over 100 years, sophisticated design that blends in with modern lifestyles, and the fascination of calligraphy, a traditional Japanese culture, combine to create a unique worldview that is completely new to Shishu’s creations. Please enjoy the luxurious artistic space created by this encounter that transcends time and country.

Artist Profile

Sisyu

Calligrapher, Artist, Professor at Osaka University of Arts

Sisyu began calligraphy at the age of six. He spent three years in Nara and Kyoto, studying authentic Japanese calligraphy and traditional beauty.

In addition to “Sho,” Sisyu’s works, such as “Three-Dimensional Calligraphy,” which frees calligraphy from the constraints of flat surfaces and traditional culture, and “Shoga,” which combines calligraphy with painting, are said to be unique contemporary artworks that reconstruct traditional culture from a new perspective.

In 2014, Sisyu became the first Japanese artist to win both the Gold Prize for Calligraphy and the Gold Prize for Sculpture at the National Art Society of France exhibition held in the basement of the Louvre Museum in France.

The following year, he was selected as “Guest of Honor Artist” at the same exhibition and held a large-scale exhibition. He is the first Japanese artist since Taikan Yokoyama to achieve such a feat, and is active not only in Japan but also in the world.

In Japan, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (the current Emperor and Empress) visited the “Shisyu” exhibition, and he also wrote the titles for the NHK historical drama “Ryomaden” and “Bi no Tsubou”.

Selected Works

Ukiyoe Series

Ukiyoe is characterized by a painting style in which outlines are removed and only colors are used, and then the outlines are superimposed on a three-dimensional ink rubbings sculpture. From a certain viewpoint, the outlines of the painting and the sculpture match, but when the viewpoint is shifted, the painting and the outlines are out of alignment and appear as if misprinted.

This series reproduces the surprise of 19th century European painters who “encountered” contour lines and the “misprints” that resulted in the overwhelming number of Ukiyo-e that could be supplied to the world.

Cubism in Calligraphy Series

This series looks back on the history of writing, which began with carved bone script and was later written on paper, and expresses the letters in three dimensions, freeing them from paper.

Other works on display will include calligraphic works in which the characters and pictures complement each other, and calligraphy that can be enjoyed as it ages.

Poltrona Frau

Poltrona Frau is a leading Italian luxury furniture brand backed by the excellence of Artigiano’s craftsmanship that has been passed down for over 100 years. Working in collaboration with renowned architects and designers who know the value of authenticity, Poltrona Frau has been decorating various scenes in the world of luxury, from luxury hotels, museums, airport lounges, and brand stores to the interiors of the finest yachts and high-end cars.

Pere Frau,” the finest leather with unique softness, is produced from carefully selected high quality calfskin, which is carefully processed and subjected to strict quality control. Soft and comfortable to the skin, this leather is ideal for expressing curves. This leather is what makes Poltrona Frau’s “furniture art” possible.

Poltrona Frau Tokyo Aoyama is the authorized flagship store of Poltrona Frau. The 320㎡ space on the first and second floors, inspired by the company’s showroom on Via Manzoni in Milan, is designed and supervised by Poltrona Frau, and features the finest leather “Pere Frau” in vivid Italian colors, from the iconic Italian “furniture art” collection to the interior design. The 320㎡ space on the first floor and the second floor will feature approximately 100 items from the iconic collection of Italian “furniture art” to interior accessories. In addition, stationery presented at the Milano Salone del Mobile in 2023 in collaboration with a luxury stationery brand will be unveiled for the first time in Japan.Poltrona Frau Tokyo Aoyama

Address: 5 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062

5-2-13 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Phone number: 03-3400-4321

Closed: Wednesdays (except national holidays)

Business hours: 11:00-19:00

Access : Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line, Chiyoda Line “Omotesando” Station

3 min. walk from Exit A5

5 min. walk from Exit B3

Official website: https://www.idc-otsuka.jp/poltrona-frau-tokyo-aoyama/shop/aoyama