A Prayer for Endless Creation Embodied in “Unfinished”

The moment ink falls upon paper, a perfect imperfection dwells there.

The two characters “未完” (Unfinished), powerfully written by calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki, trace a trajectory that is both wild and beautiful, as if reflecting life itself.

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／

Completion Named Unfinished

“Unfinished”—something not yet complete.Something not yet ended.

However, this word contains a deeper meaning beyond mere “incompleteness.”
People often seek perfection and aim for completion.
But isn’t the true value found not in the stillness of completion, but in the vitality that continues to move while remaining unfinished?

Look at Shourin Iwasaki’s brushwork.
The upper character “未” (mi), with its bold sweeping strokes and powerful dots, expresses anticipation for an unseen future.
The lower character “完” (kan), while possessing a more complex structure, releases its final stroke into space as if refusing conclusion.

The Melody of an Unfinished Symphony

In the world of music, there exists a masterpiece called the “Unfinished Symphony.”
This symphony left by Schubert remains incomplete as its name suggests, yet precisely because of this, it continues to offer infinite resonance and imagination to its listeners.

What is completed ends there.
But what remains unfinished welcomes new completions again and again in the hearts of those who behold it.
Shourin Iwasaki’s “Unfinished” similarly weaves different stories in the heart of each viewer.

Life Is a Continuous Unfinished Work

Our lives, too, are a continuous series of unfinished works.

Beyond goals we thought we’d achieved, new goals emerge.
At moments we think perfect, we discover room for further growth.
There’s a four-character idiom “taiki bansei” (大器晩成—great talents mature late), but perhaps those who possess truly great capacity never complete even in their later years, continuing to grow until the very moment of death.

In the ancient Chinese text “荘子” there’s a concept called “muyou no you” (無用之用—the usefulness of uselessness).
It teaches that true value lies within what seems useless. Rather than pursuing the “usefulness” of completion, finding infinite possibilities within the “uselessness” of the unfinished—isn’t this the perspective of a true creator?

Philosophy Dwelling in Ink

When viewing Shourin Iwasaki’s works, one realizes that calligraphy is not merely an art pursuing the beauty of characters.
Embedded within are the calligrapher’s own philosophy, worldview, and questions for the future.

The two characters “Unfinished,” together with the vermillion seal stamp placed at the lower left, maintain a perfect balance.
Or rather, it should be called a composition that deliberately leaves negative space.
That very negative space tells the essence of this work.

Negative space is not emptiness.
Negative space is possibility.

Stories not yet written, paths not yet walked, selves not yet encountered—all of these breathe within this negative space.

The Beginning of a Story Without End

There’s a word “mikanketu” (未完結—unconcluded).
It refers to stories that have not reached their ending.
But come to think of it, don’t truly wonderful stories continue in the reader’s heart even after closing the final page?

Shourin Iwasaki’s world of calligraphy does not conclude with a single work.
Visit his Instagram, and there await works of further incompleteness beyond “Unfinished.”
Each work becomes a prologue to the next, and all works together weave one great “unfinished story.”

Bringing Art into Daily Life—An Encounter with Calligraphy

Would you like to welcome such calligraphy works into your everyday space?

Shourin Iwasaki has recently opened an online shop on STORES.
You can now easily view and purchase various calligraphy works.

Calligraphy works are more than just characters.
They breathe life into a space and quietly yet certainly enrich the hearts of those who live there.
Imagine starting your day by viewing these characters each morning.
Calming your mind with them each evening.
Picture a life where art naturally blends into your daily routine.

In the online shop, detailed images of each work are presented along with the thoughts embedded in every piece.
If any work speaks to you, please visit STORES (https://shourin-iwasaki.stores.jp/).

＼　岩﨑翔凛のSTORESはこちら！　／

Gazing at the Unfinished Within You

Standing before this work “Unfinished,” what do you feel?

You might recall the unfinished projects, unfinished dreams, unfinished life within yourself.
And you might realize not to be ashamed of being unfinished, but that there exists a journey you can continue precisely because it remains unfinished.

Shourin Iwasaki’s world of calligraphy resonates with the unfinished stories in your heart.
On his Instagram, not only this “Unfinished” but newly created works await dialogue with you each day.

Why not listen to the words a single piece of calligraphy speaks?
Why not receive from it the courage to continue moving forward while remaining unfinished, rather than aiming for completion?

The unfinished story continues to carve new strokes today as well.

Please witness the world of works by calligrapher Shourin Iwasaki with your own eyes.
Why not follow and experience the world of calligraphy updated daily?

＼　岩﨑翔凛のInstagramはこちら！　／