鶴置字 

Editor: Here we have "Koji Ziyu" by Zenkei Shibayama. The artwork is undated but composed of ink on paper. At first glance, it looks like strong, confident brushstrokes forming these beautiful calligraphic characters. It's almost like a dance! What do you see in this piece, someone so deeply familiar with Zen calligraphy? Curator: A dance indeed! It's less about *what* is written and more about *how* it's written, isn't it? Shibayama's brush is alive. Forget perfectly formed characters. Look at the dynamism in the ink, the way he lets the brush run dry at times, almost gasping for air, and then floods it with intention. Do you see that raw energy? This isn't just writing; it's breath made visible. I like to think each stroke a mini-meditation. Editor: That idea of 'breath made visible' is really hitting home for me! I was so focused on trying to read the characters, I missed the energy. The imperfections actually add so much character. Were these artists always striving for…fluidity? Curator: 'Striving' might be too strong a word. Zen isn't about forcing; it's about finding the natural flow, that spontaneous unfolding. Shibayama probably wasn’t chasing perfection, but letting the calligraphy happen through him, responding to the present moment, ink and paper in conversation. Imagine the peace they must have had, right? Editor: I am starting to imagine it! It's kind of mind-blowing how a few seemingly simple strokes can hold so much intention and feeling. Now, it invites a deeper contemplation. Curator: Precisely! We come to learn about the art, but what the art gives is some deeper knowledge about ourselves. Editor: Absolutely! Thank you for illuminating this calligraphic dance for me!