Exhibition in Japan
Blair participated in the ART/X/TOYAMA international exhibition in Japan in May 2022. ART/X/TOYAMA is a contemporary public exhibition showing artworks from Japanese and international invited artists, and has been held every four years. Blair exhibited a series of twelve photographs as well as two abstract paintings.
| Name: | Blair Shogen Thomson |
| Time creatively active: | since graduation, Glasgow School of Art 2002 |
| Media + expression: | Shodo calligraphy, Zen teaching and practice, Shakyo Sutra copying, Tenkoku stampmaking, drawing, painting, photography, workshops |
Zazen practice:
at peace
within the heart
the clear moon
even the smashing waves
reflecting light
(Waka by Master Dogen, trans. Shogen)
Blair with Kaisho style calligraphy of Chinese poem: ‘In one valley, seagulls scatter, peach blossoms and rain, on both banks of the river, a nightingale cries and wind blows the willow trees’
Blair has been fortunate to have practiced Japanese and Chinese stampmaking – Tenkoku, better known as Hanko – with shodo calligraphy and tenkoku masters in Toyama and Tokyo.
temporal voids
of cerulean blue –
ice holes, pulsating –
falling apart rapidly
plummeting