From the lower right corner of the paper, a multitude of words, written in various sizes and styles, burst forth, overlapping in a chaotic profusion. The words “unfinished composition”—which also serves as the title of the work—and “interpretation” are clearly discernible, along with the names of months such as “April,” “May,” and “November,” which are inscribed in smaller characters. The repeated use of the phrase “too many characters” (ji-amari 字余り; a Japanese poetry term referring to exceeding the prescribed number of syllables per line) is particularly striking. The characters near the lower margin appear to have been written vertically while the work was rotated horizontally. Some words are written diagonally, and others are arranged vertically from top to bottom. In the lower right corner, diagonal lines suggest rapid movement, as if the words, once confined in a narrow space, are now explosively emerging.

Another work from the same period, bearing the same title, presents the phrase “Unfinished Composition” in five vertically arranged characters. One might view that work as akin to the cover of a book, with the present piece as its content. A dense linguistic world takes shape, where words imbued with various tones and inflections overlap and resonate with one another.

Ishikawa Kyuyoh (calligrapher; b. 1945)

Born in Fukui Prefecture, Japan in 1945. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kyoto University. After serving as a professor at Kyoto Seika University and the director of the Institute for Writing and Civilizations, he is now an emeritus professor at the same university. Ishikawa has elucidated the concept that “calligraphy is the art of hisshoku (taction),” and interprets the structure and history of calligraphy. As a critic, he is also active in discussions on the Japanese language and culture, which have had a significant impact across various fields. In both his artistic creations and written works, Ishikawa continues to produce cutting-edge expressions and insights. His body of work includes over 2,000 calligraphic pieces and more than 100 published books.