Remarks of Consul-General Hidenobu Sobashima at the Toko Shinoda Exhibition on 23 July 2013
Director Lesley Kehoe,
Distinguished Guests,
I appreciate this opportunity to say a few words, now and here.
As the Consul-General of Japan I have had various occasions to speak.
In connection with the raking by the Economist Intelligence Unit of Melbourne as the world’s most liveable city for the two years running, I have repeatedly said that perhaps the collaboration and cooperation between the Japanese residents and Australian hosts here is also contributing to this liveability that is the world’s best, economically and culturally, in this multicultural society.
Lesley is one of the key persons in this regard.
Among various exhibitions of Japanese and other artists here in the Lesley Kehoe Galleries, they say that this first exhibition in Australia of original paintings by Toko Shinoda in her centennial year with the cooperation from the Tolman Collection, Tokyo is the Galleries’ most important exhibition to date.
Ms Toko Shinoda who has become 100 years old last March, is an artist and calligrapher of the world reputation.
Some say that her art is built upon the discipline of Eastern calligraphy and the supposedly Western tradition of free expression.
Having lived in New York in the mid 1950’s, she developed her unique art internationally.
Others say that she has avoided “artistic nationalism” and resisted labels.
She uses brushes and ink from China and paper from France, among other tools and materials.
Her exhibitions have been held in Tokyo, New York, Paris, Berlin, Sao Paolo, among many other cities in the world.
And now here in Melbourne, Australia.
I would like to offer my sincere congratulations and appreciation to Director Kehoe and Mr Norman Tolman who has come here from Tokyo tonight, among other people who have contributed to making this exhibition possible.
I hope you will all appreciate and enjoy this exhibition.
Thank you.