Above the Valley of Calligraphy, Stand the Twin Peaks: Yu-ichi Inoue x Wei Ligang, Amanyangyun
Installation completed／Public opening never realized | Amanyangyun (Shanghai) | Yu-ichi Inoue x Wei Ligang, Dialogue Exhibition
Above the Valley of Calligraphy, Stand the Twin Peaks | Yu-ichi Inoue x Wei Ligang, Dialogue Exhibition／Amanyangyun (Shanghai) | Installation completed／Public opening never realized
(The opening was repeatedly postponed due to Shanghai’s COVID-19 lockdown, and the exhibition ultimately ended without ever opening to the public.)
A “dialogue exhibition” between Yu-ichi Inoue and the contemporary Chinese calligrapher Wei Ligang. Two traditional courtyard buildings within Amanyangyun, a luxury resort in Shanghai, served as the venue. Installation was completed, but due to Shanghai’s large-scale COVID-19 lockdown, the exhibition ended without the public opening ever taking place. It was shown privately only to hotel guests and residents. A catalogue, Above the Valley of Calligraphy, Stand the Twin Peaks, was produced to document the exhibition. The World Paper Culture Heritage Support Foundation Kamimori, established by Kami Ya, supported the exhibition.
Exhibition Overview
Status | Installation completed／Public opening never realized (Following repeated postponements due to Shanghai’s COVID-19 lockdown, the exhibition ended without ever opening to the public)
Venue | Amanyangyun (Shanghai), two traditional courtyard buildings
Works | Approx. 40 works by Yu-ichi Inoue
Artists | Yu-ichi Inoue, Wei Ligang
Organizers | Yangyun International Community, Kouzan Fine Arts Company
Support | World Paper Culture Heritage Support Foundation Kamimori (established by Kami Ya)
Touring | Part of a series of Yu-ichi Inoue exhibitions in China (same series as the exhibitions at Tsinghua University Art Museum and Shanghai Powerlong Museum)
Significance of the Exhibition
A “Dialogue Exhibition” Between Yu-ichi Inoue and Wei Ligang
While the exhibitions at Tsinghua University Art Museum and Shanghai Powerlong Museum were retrospective in character, this exhibition was a new attempt: a “dialogue exhibition” with the contemporary Chinese calligrapher Wei Ligang. By juxtaposing Inoue’s calligraphy with Wei’s contemporary calligraphic expression, the exhibition was conceived to illuminate Inoue’s art anew through resonance and contrast between the two artists.
Amanyangyun, an Extraordinary Venue
Amanyangyun is a luxury resort in Shanghai featuring traditional Ming and Qing dynasty architecture relocated and restored from Anhui province. Rather than a museum, two historic courtyard buildings (traditional Chinese residences) served as the exhibition venue — an unprecedented setting where the space of ancient architecture intersected with contemporary calligraphy.
An Unusual Course of Events Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Installation of the exhibition had been completed, but the large-scale COVID-19 lockdown that subsequently struck Shanghai led to repeated postponements of the public opening date, and the exhibition ultimately ended without ever opening to the public. It was shown only privately to hotel guests and residents of Amanyangyun. A catalogue, Above the Valley of Calligraphy, Stand the Twin Peaks: Yu-ichi Inoue, Wei Ligang, Dialogue Exhibition, was produced to document the exhibition.
Works on View
The exhibition combined approximately 40 works of calligraphy by Yu-ichi Inoue (primarily hanging scrolls and framed works) with contemporary calligraphic works by Wei Ligang. A detailed list of works is compiled in the catalogue Above the Valley of Calligraphy, Stand the Twin Peaks.
About the Artists
Yu-ichi Inoue
Yu-ichi Inoue (1916–1985) was a calligrapher born in Tokyo. As a leading figure in Japan’s postwar avant-garde calligraphy movement, he gained international acclaim for his distinctive expression, including his single-character calligraphy (ichiji-sho).
Wei Ligang
Wei Ligang (b. 1964, Shanxi Province, China) is one of China’s leading contemporary calligraphers. Known for his distinctive style that incorporates abstract and pictorial elements while drawing on traditional calligraphy, he is active both in China and internationally.
Catalogue
A catalogue, Above the Valley of Calligraphy, Stand the Twin Peaks: A Dialogue Between Yuichi Inoue and Wei Ligang (Japanese title: 翰墨・双峰 井上有一 魏立刚 対話展), was produced for the exhibition. It includes a preface by curator Hongxiao Wei and is structured in two (or more) parts.
Exhibition Photographs
Photos: Kami Ya (Exhibition photographs are taken from the exhibition pamphlet)
翰墨・双峰 井上有一×魏立刚 养云安缦（Amanyangyun）
設営完了／コロナ禍のため一般公開は実施されず｜养云安缦（Amanyangyun・上海）｜井上有一×魏立刚「対話展」
翰墨・双峰 井上有一×魏立刚 対話展／养云安缦（Amanyangyun・上海）｜設営完了／一般公開は実施されず（コロナ禍のロックダウンにより延期のまま終了）
井上有一と中国の現代書法家・魏立刚による「対話展」。上海の高級リゾート养云安缦（Amanyangyun)内の伝統様式院落2棟を会場に、設営まで完了しましたが、上海のコロナロックダウンにより一般公開は実施されないまま終了しました。宿泊者・居住者にのみ内々に公開され、図録『翰墨・双峰』が制作されています。かみ屋が設立した世界紙文化遺産支援財団 紙守が、本展を支援しました。
展覧会概要
状 況｜設営完了／一般公開は実施されないまま終了（コロナ禍によるロックダウンで開幕を延期し続けた末に、公開されないまま終了）
会 場｜养云安缦（Amanyangyun・上海）内の伝統様式院落2棟
出品点数｜井上有一作品 約40点
出品作家｜井上有一、魏立刚
主 催｜养云国际社区、株式会社黄山美術社
支 援｜世界紙文化遺産支援財団 紙守（かみ屋設立）
巡 回｜井上有一 中国巡回展の一つ（清華大学芸術博物館展・上海宝龍美術館展と同シリーズ）
展覧会の意義
井上有一×魏立刚「対話展」という性格
清華大学芸術博物館展・上海宝龍美術館展が井上有一の回顧的な性格を持つのに対し、本展は中国の現代書法家・魏立刚との「対話展」という新しい試みだった。井上有一の書と魏立刚による現代的な書法表現を並置することで、両者の呼応や対比を通じて井上有一の芸術をあらためて照らし出す構成が意図された。
养云安缦という特別な会場
养云安缦（Amanyangyun）は、安徽省から移築・再生された明清時代の伝統建築群を擁する上海の高級リゾートで、美術館ではなく歴史的な院落（中国伝統家屋）2棟が展示会場として用いられた。古建築の空間と現代書法が交差する、他に類を見ない会場構成となった。
コロナ禍による特異な経緯
本展は設営まで完了していたが、その後に発生した上海の大規模なコロナロックダウンにより、一般公開の開始日を延長し続けた末、結局一度も一般公開されることのないまま終了した。养云安缦の宿泊者・居住者に対してのみ、内々の展覧会として密かに公開されたにとどまる。開催の記録として図録『翰墨・双峰 井上有一 魏立刚 対話展』が制作されている。
出品作品
本展では、井上有一の書作品（掛軸・額装作品を中心に約40点）に、魏立刚の現代書法作品を組み合わせて展示された。個別の出品目録は図録『翰墨・双峰』にまとめられている。
出品作家について
井上有一
井上有一（1916–1985）は、東京生まれの書家。戦後日本の前衛書道を代表する存在として、一字書をはじめとする独自の表現で国際的に高く評価された。
魏立刚
魏立刚（1964年、中国・山西省生まれ）は、中国を代表する現代書法家の一人。伝統的な書法を踏まえながら、抽象的・絵画的な要素を取り入れた独自の表現で知られ、国内外で活躍している。
図録
本展にあわせ、図録『翰墨・双峰 井上有一 魏立刚 対話展』（英題：Above the Valley of Calligraphy, Stand the Twin Peaks: A Dialogue Between Yuichi Inoue and Wei Ligang）が制作された。策展人（キュレーター）魏鴻曉氏による序文を収録し、上下（複数パート）構成となっている。
会場写真
撮影：株式会社黄山美術社
