Spatial Calligraphy
2007
Spatial Calligraphy is calligraphy drawn in space. The artwork reconstructs calligraphy in three dimensional space to express the depth, speed and power of the brush stroke, and that calligraphy is then flattened using the logical structure of space that teamLab calls Ultrasubjective Space. The calligraphy shifts between two and three dimensions.
FEATURED WORKS
Reversible Rotation - Black in White
teamLab, 2018, Digital Installation, Sound: Hideaki Takahashi
The Spatial Calligraphy in this artwork space rotates in the same direction, but because of the characteristics of Ultrasubjective Space, visually, the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation are logically equivalent. Hence, the work can appear to be rotating in either direction depending on how the viewer chooses to look at it.
Spatial Calligraphy is a form of calligraphy drawn in space that teamLab has been exploring since it was founded. The artwork reconstructs calligraphy in three-dimensional space to express the depth, speed, and power of the brush stroke, and that calligraphy is then flattened using the logical structure of space that teamLab calls Ultrasubjective Space. The calligraphy shifts between two and three dimensions.
Spatial Calligraphy: 12 Hanging Scrolls of Light
teamLab, 2008, Digital Installation, LED, 4 min 17 sec (loop), H: 2700 mm, Sound: Sound: Yuji Katsui (Electric Violin)
In the gardens of France’s Palace of Versailles, trees of similar species and height are planted at regular intervals. A continuous sense of depth is created by the way in which identical trees systematically appear smaller as one looks to the horizon. Conversely, at the gardens at the Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa in Japan, the scenery consists of a foreground, middleground, and background, and a sense of depth is achieved by layering.
In this work spatial calligraphy characters written on a number of panels or layers are brought together in the exhibition space. This work explores the relation between writing in space and the way writing can create space, collapsing the expectation of calligraphy as static on a page.
teamLab, 2017, Digital Work, Single channel, 18min 30sec (loop)
In Zen, Enso is a circle that has since ancient times been written with canes or sticks in midair. It is said to represent enlightenment, truth, the entirety of the universe, and equality. The circle also reflects the hearts and minds of those who view it, with its interpretation left to the individual.
teamLab, 2017, Digital Work, 18min 30sec (loop)
Enso is the Zen practice of drawing a circle with a single brush stroke. This artwork depicts an Enso drawn as Spatial Calligraphy. The brush stroke is suspended in space but the viewpoint changes to reveal the circle Enso. teamLab has been working on Spatial Calligraphy since the collective formed. A new interpretation of traditional calligraphy, Spatial Calligraphy reconstructs calligraphy in three-dimensional space and expresses the depth, speed and power of the brush stroke.
In Zen, enso is a circle that has since ancient times been written with canes or sticks in midair. It is said to represent enlightenment, truth, the entirety of the universe, and equality. The circle also reflects the hearts and minds of those who view it, with its interpretation left to the individual.