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Bird Brush 100 “Kaze” 

One hundred brushes, one hundred lines, one hundred breaths.

Bird Brush 100 “Kaze” was created with one hundred self-crafted brushes, each used to write the character for “wind.” First exhibited at the TSUBASA KIMURA Museum in Osaka in 2011, it marked the inaugural step toward the full Bird Brush 100 series.

【Venue Photographs】

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Exhibition View — Bird Brush 100: “Wind”

A hundred works, each created with a brush fashioned from bird feathers, are arrayed across an entire wall.
The unique character of each “Wind” emerges from the individuality of its brush — varying in both species and size — harnessing the distinctive qualities of every feather.


TSUBASA KIMURA Museum (Osaka), 2011

【What is the Bird Brush?】

The term “Bird Brush” refers to a calligraphy brush crafted from bird feathers — in contrast to conventional brushes, which traditionally employ goat, horse, or other animal hair.
Within the Four Treasures of the Study in the art of calligraphy, it is classified as a type of special brush.
The name torifude (literally, “bird brush”) emerged organically through years of repeated making and use.

Bird Brush

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Conventional Brush

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On the Use of the Bird Brush

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While regarded today as a special-purpose implement, its origins are deeply rooted in history.
Historical accounts tell us that Su Shi (1037–1101), also known as Su Dongpo — one of the most celebrated calligraphers of China’s Song dynasty — employed brushes fashioned from bird feathers.
In Chinese practice, there exists a method in which the brush handle is rotated in harmony with the feather’s alignment, yielding lines similar in quality to those of a standard brush.
Yet this technique does not capture the expressive potential unique to the feather brush, nor can one identify, by visual inspection alone, which works were executed with it.

In postwar Japan, within the sphere of avant-garde calligraphy, such special brushes were reportedly employed to produce the effect of “broken lines.”
It is within these very broken lines that the latent potential of the Bird Brush may be found — a capacity to evoke forms of expression previously unseen.

On the Making of the Bird Brush

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The Bird Brush begins with the careful selection of feathers from various bird species.
Each feather is meticulously sorted and prepared for brush-making, for the usable portion differs according to the feather’s type and orientation.
This labour-intensive process is sometimes prolonged to a near meditative extent.
With the collaboration of master brush artisans, each instrument is shaped with precision and quietly assembled, one by one, into its final form.

Why “100”?

The path to a single definitive form demands no fewer than a hundred trials.
Bird Brush 100 stands as both a chronicle of such trials and a journey through the realm of the line.
This journey called for one hundred brushes — each one crafted by my own hand, entrusted with a question, and committed to the paper in line.
What is presented here is the trace of that journey.

(Photograph of a Bird Brush in the exhibition space)

【Catalogue of Works】

└ No.1–20  

Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.1
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.2
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.9
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.8
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.7
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.6
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.5
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.4
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.3
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.10
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.13
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.12
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.11
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.14
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.15
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.20
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.18
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.16
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.19
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.17

【Catalogue of Works】

└ No.21–30  

Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.21
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.22
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.23
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.24
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.25
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.28
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.29
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.30
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.27
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.26
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.35
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.34
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.33
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.32
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.31
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.40
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.36
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.39
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.38
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.37

【Catalogue of Works】

└ No.41–60  

Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.43
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.42
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.41
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.45
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.44
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.60
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.49
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.50
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.46
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.48
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.54
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.51
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.55
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.53
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.47
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.52
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.56
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.57
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.58
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.59

【Catalogue of Works】

└ No.61–80  

Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.65
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.64
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.72
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.62
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.74
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.70
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Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.68
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.69
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.73
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.71
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.78
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.61
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.63
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.77
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.80
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.75
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.79
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.76

【Catalogue of Works】

└ No.81–100  

Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.89
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.87
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.85
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.83
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.84
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.86
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.88
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.82
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.81
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.90
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.91
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.96
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.97
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.98
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.93
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.94
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.99
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.92
Japanese calligraphy "風" (Kaze, Wind) with bird feather brush by Tsubasa Kimura, Bird Brush 100 No.100
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