Calligraphy Inspired by Proverbs

Mayuko Ono Gray, originally from Gifu Prefecture, moved to the United States after graduating high school to study art. She now presents works using graphite, leveraging her calligraphy experience. She is currently an adjunct instructor of fine arts and a gallery director at Mainland University in Texas. Mark Greenwald, from Dallas, Texas, has been a full-time lecturer at Mainland University since 2000, known for his style that evokes a dreamlike world.



More than just mentor and student, the two have collaborated on diverse projects, including the creation of a joint mural at the University of Oaxaca in Mexico. In this exhibition, their first in Japan, both artists pursue their individual ideas through graphite.



Greenwald will exhibit works featuring figures rendered with sculptural detail, while Ono will present calligraphy inspired by proverbs. Her dynamic characters, drawn with a single, continuous line, explore her identity as an immigrant in America. These lines intertwine densely, almost obscuring the original characters, yet from them, one can sense her love, her life's journey, and her philosophy.



This exhibition utilizes graphite, one of the four pure forms of carbon, an element that endures eternally. Graphite, evoking a sense of permanence, expresses the brevity of our lives within the vast history of the universe, resulting in works that highlight the brilliance that comes from such transience.