Artist's StatementYi-Zhi HuangEvery nation that has script has calligraphy. But not in every nation calligraphy has evolved into a major form of visual art. Because of various cultural reasons and because of the persistency of many calligraphers for centuries, Chinese calligraphy became such a major form of visual art in China and has had a great influence on Chinese painting and all other forms of visual art in China. Chinese calligraphy is very unique in structures and tools and, as any other art does, it conveys emotion and intellect. It is calligraphy, the abstract art par excellence, that holds the key to the aesthetic of Chinese visual arts in the past two centuries. Comparing to western abstract visual art, Chinese calligraphy has a long tradition of more than two thousand years. This tradition makes it much easier for the public to understand Chinese calligraphy than the modern school of western painting known as Abstract Expressionism. On the other hand, this tradition does not suppress the originality and individuality of the artists since the ancient art works are always a great inspiring source for innovation and creativity. |