Calligraphy Art and Paintings

Chinese Calligraphy is not the Chinese alphabet. Chinese calligraphy is actually a set of characters that make up a whole new world.  Calligraphy and paintings often go hand-in-hand in Chinese culture. “Calligraphy, or the art of writing, was the visual art form prized above all others in traditional China. The genres of painting and calligraphy emerged simultaneously, sharing identical tools—namely, brush and ink. Yet calligraphy was revered as a fine art long before painting…” ( Delbanco, 2008).  The artwork of our featured artist, Wuchen, reflects the combinations of these two art forms.  Calligraphy and ink wash paintings carry a long history of Chinese elite culture. Through symbols such as bamboo and plum blossoms, the art by Chinese literati serves to convey a vision of nobility and the ideal personality rooted in Confucianism. Hidden behind a calligraphy or artwork, rich information is to be deciphered. As a scholar and cultural researcher, Wuchen marries scholarly research with persistent practice. His works emphasize expression and visual impact through creative approaches. 

Wuchen (born 1961 - present ) received his B.A. degree from the Department of Chinese Literature, University of Shanxi in 1982. He started learning calligraphy at a very young age and has researched extensively in the fields of history and culture. Wuchen held multiple calligraphy and art exhibitions across China. His efforts, which integrate research and calligraphy, have earned him the reputation as a scholar-calligrapher.

Reference:

Delbanco, D. (2008). “Chinese calligraphy.”

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chcl/hd_chcl.htm