In addition to being a symbol of traditional Chinese culture, calligraphy is also becoming a popular contemporary art form. This is skillfully illustrated in a multimedia exhibition that integrates architecture, interior design and Chinese characters. Calligraphy artist Tong Yang-tze (
With a background in photography, Tong turned her attention to calligraphy in the 1990s. Since then she has taken on several projects with the intention of attracting a new and younger audience. The integration of modern media like graphic and interior design in her work has led to collaborations with various artists, including two previous projects with Chen in 2000 and 2002.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAIPEI FINE ARTS MUSEUM
Chen, famed for his simple architecture, has received plaudits in both Taiwan and Japan. He avoids lurid and aggressive designs by using only black and white with minimal fixtures.
His modest designs complement Tong's dramatic brush strokes and illustrate just how rich and powerful calligraphy as an art form can be. The show has been divided into three gallery spaces, each with its own unique spatial design and suitably selected passages from classical Chinese literature and religious texts.
In Gallery D, Opening Poem of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a work across a 56m scroll. The entire text wraps around an oval wall approximately 8m in height. The room is covered in sand, which, set against the soft and natural lighting, creates a feeling of walking through a garden during the daytime.
Upon entering Gallery F, viewers are taken to another courtyard scene, only now the bright lighting has been replaced with limited lighting from a few candles, which gives the effect of moonlight. Five mirror-topped coffee tables have been positioned around the room to create a maze-like garden space for viewers to walk around. The exaggerated brush strokes make the characters almost unrecogni-zable, as they are reflected in the mirrors.
The third exhibit in Gallery E is a video installation employing the talents of Hong Kong graphic designer, Mathias Woo.
More recently known for his scriptwriting endeavors, Woo has also designed multimedia stage productions for Taiwanese director Stan Lai. Here, Tong plays with different combinations of six characters taken from a central Buddhist teaching in the Heart Sutra.
Using both clerical and grass scripts, the characters are projected onto the wall, ceiling and floor, encompassing the entire room. As viewers step into and around the space, their shadows are projected among the shifting characters, making the viewers a part of the installation.
Described as "digital calligraphy" the juxtaposition of modern technology with the traditional form of writing gives new life to a fading practice. By combing elements of design, architecture and calligraphy in the exhibition, the two artists provide an innovative way of viewing the written Chinese language.
Exhibition notes:
What: Realm of Feelings: A Dialogue of Calligraphy and Space by Tong Yang-tze and Ray Chen with multi-media design by Mathis Woo.
Where: In the basement galleries D, E, F at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館) located at 181 Zhongshan N Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (臺北市中山北路3段181號).
Telephone: (02) 2595-7656
When: 9:30am to 5:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays). Until Dec. 5.
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