Traditional Brush-and-ink and Contemporary Vitality in Chinese Calligraphy

This forum is an extended activity of ‘Brushstrokes / Vitality——Brush-and-Ink, Materiality and Multimodality in Chinese Calligraphy and Seal Engraving: Chak-kwong Daniel Lau Solo Exhibition’ (Organiser: Hong Kong Arts Centre / Exhibition venue: The Hui Gallery, G/F, Cheng Ming Building, New Asia College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong / Exhibition period: 17-28 September 2024). Professor Eva Man, The Moderator, and the three Panelists will examine the notions of traditional brush-and-ink and contemporary vitality in Chinese Calligraphy in an art studio filled with rich artistic ambience. As a calligrapher and art historian, Chak-kwong Daniel Lau wrote his scholarly essay “The Refreshing Paradox of Embracing Innovation for a Return to Antiquity: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Integration of Art Historical Research with Creative Art Practice of Chinese Calligraphy,” in which he emphasizes the close relationship between the practice of calligraphy and the research of Chinese calligraphy history. On the other hand, Lau’s calligraphy witnesses a breakthrough in traditional Chinese art. Building upon the solid foundation of calligraphy, Lau’s calligraphy sculptures transcend the conventional tools of brush, ink, paper, silk, and format, pushing the boundaries of Chinese character strokes and calligraphy from the confines of two-dimensional space into a dynamic three-dimensional realm. The new concept, combined with the artist's thoughts and emotions, makes his calligraphy’s expressiveness and modes of expressions more vivid and vibrant. Last but not least, Lau’s large-scale calligraphy performances/ calligraphy-cum-performance artworks fully demonstrate his innovative intermedia works! These performances not only expand the horizons of traditional calligraphic expression but also incorporate elements such as body movements, strength, and rhythm evoked by wielding a giant brush, as well as interactive improvisation with the audience.

本座談會為“筆觸 · 活力——中國書法及篆刻中的筆墨、物質性及多模態：劉澤光個展” 的延伸活動（展覽主辦機構:香港藝術中心 / 展覽場地: 香港中文大學新亞書院 許氏文化館 (誠明館地下) / 展期: 2024年9月17至28日）。座談主持人文潔華教授將與三位與談人在富濃厚藝術氛圍的視藝工作室中，一同探討中國書法中的傳統筆墨與當代活力。劉澤光既是書法家，也是藝術史學者，他曾撰《建基於復古之創新——融合藝術史研究與書法創作的跨領域途徑》一文，強調書法創作與書法史研究的密切關係。另一方面，他也有不少突破傳統書法形式的創作，他的書法雕塑就突破筆墨、紙、絹和幅式，將漢字筆畫和書法的二維空間擴展成三維空間。新的意念結合藝術家的思想感情，使書法的表現性與模式更顯活潑。最後，劉氏的大型書法表演/ 書法行為藝術更將他的跨媒體創作發揮得淋漓盡致！不單超越傳統書法表達的維度，更在揮動巨型毛筆時產生的身體動作、力量和韻律，及與觀眾的互動與即興交流。