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In the seventh project, calligrapher Masako Inkyo residing in New York decorated a room based on the theme of an ancient anthology of 100 traditional Japanese poems by 100 poets.
Inkyo showed Japanese aesthetics by using Japanese “kana” characters, saying, “I wanted to express the elegance of aristocrats in the Heian period.” The Japanese syllabary is said to have blossomed in the period (794-1192).
She completed the room during her stay at the hotel from April 16 to 22, 2014. Respecting the orthodox style of calligraphy, Inkyo also produces works with a free and creative mind. She used the guest room walls as if they were folding screens to confidently arrange the room space, writing the 100 poems in numerical order on the entrance wall and drawing big “kanji” characters for snow, moon and flower on the bedroom walls to represent the four seasons in Japan. Guests lying on the bed can see golden “kana” characters of shooting stars lighting up the ceiling painted in black. On another bedroom wall, poems from the anthology are written with letters representing rain drops. She also put up a hanging scroll by the window to create a space like a “tokonoma” alcove. Guests will be able to feel the four seasons and nature by looking at the stars on the ceiling, snow, moon and flower as well as rain on the bedroom walls and Mt. Fuji in snow in the bathroom while staying at the hotel in urban settings.
Please discover the beauty of the Japanese “kana” characters at the Artist Room One Hundred Poems.
Room #3119 | Completion Date: April 2014
With the grace of the Heian Period (royal nobility) as my theme, I drew “One Hundred Poems” on the walls of the room as if it were a folding screen.
On the ceiling which I painted black, I drew a meteor shower with “hiragana”, and expressed the natural scenery of snow-covered mountains and rain by some of the songs in the “Hundred Poems”.
I hope that, while experiencing the graceful white and lines of “hiragana”, you will enjoy the serenity of this calm space.
Masako Inkyo
Ms. Inkyo teaches shodo at the Japan Society 2003-present.
She was the official shodo artist for Infiniti in 2010-2011.
On occasion she has collaborated with Mikimoto USA.
In the spring of 2013 Ms. Inkyo collaborated with jazz pianist Greg McKenzie to perform Shooting Star, a mixedmedia Shodo and Music presentation, at the Park Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.
In addition, Ms. Inkyo has conducted many performances and demonstrations.
