Chinese calligraphy is the arrangement between freedom, truth and accident.

 

- Brett Whiteley

 

Chinese calligraphy is the art of writing Chinese characters using special tools- a brush, ink stick, ink stone and rice paper. It has a history of over 3000 years, and is considered the most important art form in China, carrying the priority that European art has traditionally reserved for painting.

 

This elevated importance of calligraphy stems from the form of the written Chinese word. Each word is represented by a character, a unique abstract diagram. These evolved over thousands of years starting from simple pictures of nature, developing alongside and becoming intimately linked with Chinese aesthetic theory and philosophy. In this way, unlike an alphabet, a Chinese character carries more than just phonetic sound or specific meaning. Its very form is considered an abstract interpretation of pure natural beauty, making it a rich means for artistic expression.

 

The seemingly simple tools of brush and ink create strokes that are thick or thin, smooth or rough, straight or cursive. The brush becomes an extension of the artist’s body and imagination, as if it is dancing on the rice paper. Yet like a dancer, the calligrapher must learn choreographed movements and maintain compositional order. An understanding of principles about the form of and relationships between strokes, and the arrangement of characters is necessary to create works with a dynamic but balanced contrast of white and black, and density with looseness. Within these bounds, the artist is free to express a personal vitality. This is the essence of the Chinese aesthetic sense.

 

A work of calligraphy is a permanent recording of a swift performance with ink and brush. Each stroke is laid down decisively in a continuous, unbroken motion, with no ability for correction, and every movement on and off the paper must be fluid and lively for the work to be cohesive. In this way, the artist captures practice, emotion and an element of serendipity within a good calligraphy work, through the aesthetic arrangement and nature of the underlying strokes.

 

Such a work is a delight to view and brings good energy to its environment, while carrying words of great meaning.