As part of the Singapore Art Week 2017, The Private Museum presented the 21st Century Calligraphy: Selections from the Nanshun Shanfang Collection. The exhibition features 21st Century Calligraphy works of 5 artists; Wang Dongling, Sun Xiaoyun, Wang Tiande, Wei Ligang, and Guan Jun.
In addition, a talk on 21st Century Calligraphy by Master Calligrapher Wang Dongling 王冬龄 was held on 14 January 2017.
Prof Wang Dongling is a prominent 21st Century Chinese Calligrapher. He is one of the 90s experimental ink movement personality. He experiments with the use of brush, and movements of his fingertips, wrists, arms, and his entire body. Born in 1945, Jiangsu Province, China, based in Hangzhou, China today.
Master Calligrapher Wang Dongling presented a demo after the talk. Prof Wang shares his love, journey and experience of Chinese Calligraphy.
21st Century Calligraphy: Works By Wang Dongling
A handful of Wang Dongling works were at the exhibition. Wang Dongling has a love of 草書 (Cursive script) as he finds this particular type of calligraphy could best express the emotion and feeling.
The first kind of his work is the simple Ink on paper using cursive scripts with a poem or a Buddha scripts written.
Next is an abstract form of the word using also the cursive scripts. In this type of works, the words aren’t legible. Instead, viewers would have to use their imagination to appreciate the artwork.
Lastly is the Silver Salt Calligraphy on Photo. He uses the photography technics, using silver-gelatin photographic paper to capture the Arts.
NAHMJ Verdict
It was an eye-opener of how the Chinese Calligraphy could transform into such an gorgeous painting. And of course, learning the journey of Chinese Calligraphy from the traditional to the modern form.
*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.