Toko Shinoda (1930)

Toko Shinoda, a distinguished Japanese artist born in 1930, is known for her unique combination of traditional calligraphy and modern abstract expressionism. Starting her artistic endeavours with traditional calligraphy, Shinoda ventured into abstract art in 1947, integrating the disciplined strokes of her calligraphic training into the freer, more spontaneous expressions of abstract art. She had a particular affinity for working with sumi (ink), valuing it for its capacity to express a limitless spectrum of colour through its varied application. Shinoda's international stature was cemented by her travels to the United States from 1956 to 1958, where she engaged deeply with the global art scene and further developed her abstract expressionist techniques, significantly shaping her style and approach to art.

Shinoda's exploration of printmaking techniques, particularly lithography, began earnestly in 1960. Unlike woodcut, which requires a chisel, or etching, which demands acid, lithography allowed Shinoda to apply her fluid brushstrokes directly and spontaneously onto the plate, mirroring the immediacy of her ink paintings. This method aligned perfectly with her artistic philosophy, as it enabled her to suggest images and the vitality of nature through her strokes, embodying a dynamic interplay between form and void. 

Her works, which include lithographs and large-scale paintings, reside in numerous prestigious permanent collections worldwide. Through her innovative fusion of Japanese calligraphy with abstract expressionism, Toko Shinoda has not only contributed significantly to contemporary art but has also bridged cultural and artistic divides, leaving an enduring mark on the art world with her unique vision and aesthetic.

Portraits of the artist Toko Shinoda

Signature of the artist Toko Shinoda