Report on Workshop at Château d'Auvers sur Oise in France
Syuran Wada participated in 'Le Festival des Irisiades', which is an event held at Château d'Auvers sur Oise (the Impressionist art Museum) near Paris in the 4th weekend in May every year (May 26 and 27 in 2012), by holding workshops and demonstrating her calligraphy.
Mr. Arnaud Bazin, Chairman of Val d'Oise Conseil general, visited her booth on May 26, and she donated two of her Japanese calligraphic works to Val d'Oise department through him. Mr. Arnaud Bazin has kindly installed her works at his private office in Val d'Oise Conseil general hall in Cergy, Pontoise.
Auvers-sur-Oise Station, located about 30km from Paris.
Notre Dame D'Auvers: 12th-13th century Gothic church Van Gogh painted in The Church at Auvers-sur-Oise in June of 1890
The cemetery where both Vincent van Gogh and Theo van Gogh are buried.
The Auvers Town Hall painted by Vincent in July 1890.
A big poster for 'Le Festival des Irisiades',
Château d'Auvers sur Oise, the Impressionist art Museum
The garden of Château d'Auvers sur Oise
Blooming iris at Château d'Auvers sur Oise
My booth.
Mr. Arnaud Bazin, Chairman of Val d'Oise Conseil general, visited my booth on May 26, and I donated two of my calligraphic works to Val d'Oise department through him. Mr. Arnaud Bazin has kindly installed my works at his private office in Val d'Oise Conseil general hall in Cergy, Pontoise.
I made demonstration to write '波' or 'wave', and '道' or 'way' in front of the VIPs of Val d'Oise Conseil general.
I also wrote the lyrics to the Japanese children's song, 'Kamomeno-suiheisan'.
A VIP of Val d'Oise Conseil general, experiencing calligraphy.
Mr. Arnaud Bazin, Chairman of Val d'Oise Conseil general, gave me his words of appreciation.
I was interviewed by a news reporter for the local newspaper.
I appeared in the local newspaper.
Demonstration for the 2nd day. I presented my calligraphy to the visitors then.
'夢' or 'dream' was very popular and pleasantly received.
Many visitors constantly experienced calligraphy.
My students came to my booth all the way from Japan!
2012/06/30
Report on Workshop in Paris!
On April 7 through May 8, 2012, 'Le Jardin Japonais', an event introducing Japan and Japanese cultures, was held at 'Le Jardin d'Acclimatation' in Paris, France, and I have participated in it for a week from April 7 to introduce the fun of Japanese calligraphy.
http://www.jardindacclimatation.fr/evenement/le-jardin-japonais/
It was a very valuable experience for me to participate in the exhibition, as it provided me with the chance to have exchanges with many Parisians as well as exhibitors of various fields. Many Parisians shoed their interest in Japanese culture, and I was able to review the traditional Japanese culture once again.
April 7(Sat.) was the opening day of the event, and it was a little chilly in the cloudy sky, but it didn't rain though anticipated.
There was a big signboard at the entrance of Le Jardin d'Acclimatation.
Our signboard was prepared.
Many bookmarks with calligraphy produced by my students and me have been donated to the secretariat of the event as one of the giveaways to the visitors.
Preparation has been all completed.
VIPs were welcomed with the performance of Japanese drums.
On the first day, I kept on demonstrating and having the visitors try calligraphy for as long as 6 hours with a long line to wait for their turn.
This girl seriously challenged calligraphy following her elder brother and sister.
This boy wanted to present a message to his mother, which was very gentle of him.
This family purchased my calligraphic hanging scroll with the 'haiku' of Kobayashi Issa for their home use.
A cute Parisienne and her dandy father!
A boy and his father tried calligraphy. They requested me to support them in moving the brush.
The mother requested me to write the name of her twin babies with her wishes for their healthy growth.
Hyogo Prefectural Government's Paris Office had a booth. They helped me a lot as I also come from Hyogo Prefecture.
Daughter of Ms. Kawamura, who had a booth next to me, kindly helped me in interpretation.
The deputy mayor of city of Paris visited my booth. 'Please try.' 'After you!'
He requested me to write a model for him, so that he could try calligraphy by himself. There were TV cameras running just beside us.
On April 14, Mr. Osamu Kuroi, a master of the tea ceremony, and Deputy Director, Hyogo Prefectural Government's Paris Office, used the calligraphic hanging scroll of Syran Wada when he held a tea ceremony at the tea house installed in 'Le Jardin d'Acclimatation'. This tea house was designed for outdoor use by Charlotte Perriand, a French designer, at the request of UNESCO in 1993. Mr.Kuroi, who had a friendship with Charlotte Perriand, held the tea ceremony to mourn for the death of Charlotte Perriand.
- Thanks to those who helped me -
Let me express my sincere appreciation for many visitors to my booth especially for those who purchased my works and for those who gave me generous words. Also let me appreciate for the kindness of exhibitors who supported me by being a translator for me, and by giving me many advices.
Published in the Yomiuri Shimbun on March 28, 2012.
The Yomiuri Shimbun, one of the Japanese major newspapers, published an article in their morning edition (Hanshin Region) on March 28, 2012, reporting our participation in 'Le Jardin Japonais' to be held at 'Le Jardin d'Acclimatation' in Paris, France.
Workshop in France!
●We will participate in 'Le Jardin Japonais' to be held at 'Le Jardin d'Acclimatation' in Paris, France.
Starting as of April 7, 2012, 'Le Jardin Japonais', which is a very big event introducing Japan and Japanese cultures, will be held at 'Le Jardin d'Acclimatation' in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris: http://www.jardindacclimatation.fr/evenement/le-jardin-japonais/
Syuran Wada and her team will participate in the event for a week from April 7 through 14, to introduce the fun of Japanese calligraphy through the exhibition of her works as well as holding workshops.
●Workshops at Château d'Auvers sur Oise in France
Syuran Wada will participate in 'Le Festival des Irisiades', which is an event to be held at Château d'Auvers sur Oise (museum) near Paris in the 4th weekend in May every year (May 26 and 27 in 2012), by holding workshops and demonstrating her calligraphy.
A present to Mr. Martyn van den Hoek, the First Prize winner at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition of Holland 1986
A piano recital was held at the Biwako Hall on Nov. 19, 2011 by Mr. Martyn van den Hoek, the First Prize winner at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition of Holland 1986, who has long been making his endeavor for promoting the relationship between Japan and the Netherlands, and who is trying to extend his support to the affected area by the East Japan Great Earthquake.
A calligraphic work by syuran Wada was presented to him then. The work was created with the image of the globe and with the Chinese character of 'kizuna' in Japanese which is equivalent to 'verbondenheid' in Dutch with the meaning of inseparable or close ties between people and people.
Martyn van den Hoek http://martyn.vandenhoek.at/en/