Born 1912 in Toyooka, Japan
Died 1998 in Kyoto, Japan
Morita Shiryu (1912–1998) was an influential Japanese calligrapher and co-founder of the avant-garde artist group Bokujinkai (ink-people-society). He combined traditional East Asian calligraphy with modern, abstract forms of expression and played a key role in establishing Japanese calligraphy internationally as a contemporary art form. His work “Ryū” (Dragon) from 1954 is particularly well known, captivating viewers with its powerful, dynamic lines and impressively demonstrating the expressive energy of his art.