Calligraphy introduction

Presentation on Chinese calligraphy, given on 16 December 2010 for a high school by Jenny Lee, Chinese/ Taiwanese painting artist and gallery owner in The Hague (Netherlands).

1. 1 An introduction into Chinese calligraphy By Jenny Lee Chinese/ Taiwanese painting artist and gallery owner Boyuan Art House, The Hague www.boyuan.nl

2. 2 Contents 1. Introduction of myself and Boyuan Art House 2. Why study calligraphy? 3. Different styles of calligraphy 4. Examples of calligraphy 5. Introduction into materials used 6. How to hold a brush? 7. Drawing lines and strokes 8. Exercise: drawing lines 9. Exercise: writing the character 永 10. End

3. 3 1. Introduction of myself

4. 4 Jenny Lee 李金曼 1963 Geboren in Taipei, Taiwan 1985–1992 Werkzaam als grafisch ontwerpster en binnenhuisarchitect in Taipei 1994 – 1996 Studie aan prestigieuze Centrale Kunstacademie in Peking 1996 – 1997 Post- doctorale opleiding aan Centrale Kunstacademie in Peking, afgestudeerd in 1997. 1997 Eindexamen-tentoonstelling in Peking 2000 Tentoonstelling in Zorgvlietkerk in Den Haag 2004 Tentoonstelling in Almaty ( Kazachstan ) 2008- Woonachtig in Den Haag 2010 Opening Boyuan Art House, galerie en atelier voor hedendaagse Chinese schilderkunst  

5. 5 Boyuan Art House 博緣堂 Gallery and studio in the centre of The Hague, specializing in contemporay Chinese painting Exhibition with works by Jia Youfu , Jia Yundi , Liu Rong , Li Xingjian, and Jenny Lee Address: Hillebrant Jacobsplein 3 2515 XS Den Haag Tel. [phone] E-mail [email protected] or [email protected]

6. Boyuan Art House 博緣堂 6

7. 7 Boyuan Art House 博緣堂

8. 8 2. Why study Chinese calligraphy? related to the essence of the Chinese writing system Chinese writing central to Chinese culture Important Chinese art form in its own right Forms basis for Chinese painting techniques Forms integral part of Chinese painting For peace of mind and concentration Considered reflection of character

9. 9 Essence of the Chinese writing system The structure of Chinese characters is a special sort of Chinese or oriental fine art inherited from Chinese culture. Originated from pictograms Chinese writing is a pictorial script each character has its own visual form Over the centuries, characters have become stylized, according to esthetic principles

10. 10 Originated from pictograms

11. 11 Calligraphy as an art form In essence, calligraphy is an abstract art. While viewing a Western abstract painting, one does not ask, "What is it?" When viewing Chinese calligraphy, one need not ask, "What is the Chinese word?"

12. 12 Calligraphy and painting: a painting by Zhao Mengfu ( 趙 孟 頫 , 1254–1322)

13. 13 Calligraphy and painting: a painting by Jia Youfu 賈又福 (1942 - )

14. Calligraphy and painting: The barking dog, by Jia Youfu 犬子焉知神仙到，笑它聲聲吠不休 “Hoe weet de hond nu dat hij tegen een onsterfelijke blaft? Zie toch lachwekkend, hoe hij luidkeels en zonder ophouden blaft.” Dit werk drijft de spot met mensen die anderen alleen op grond van hun kleren beoordelen, net als de hond die geen verschil ziet tussen een gewoon mens en een onsterfelijke. 14

15. 15 A painting by Jia Youfu

16. Calligraphy and painting: The hunchback watching a cock’s fight, by Jia Youfu 堪笑世人常如雞，用心爭斗無休息，足食飽復何求，舍命最要名和利 “ Het is toch om te lachen: mensen zijn net als hanen. Met heel hun hart rivaliseren ze met elkaar, zonder ophouden. Wat jagen ze nog na, als ze genoeg te eten en te drinken hebben? In hun zucht naar roem en rijkdom zetten ze zelfs hun leven op het spel.” 16

17. Calligraphy and painting: Plum blossom, by Jenny Lee 17

18. Calligraphy and painting: The farmhouse, by Jenny Lee 18

19. 19 Calligraphy by Zhang Ruitu 張瑞圖 (1570 – 1641)

20. 20 Calligraphy by Zhang Zhengyu (1903-1976) A virile work in which strength is paramount. The character is 山 "mountain".

21. 21 3. Different styles of calligraphy Four main styles of calligraphy: 篆書 zhuanshu seal script 隸書 lishu chancery script 草書 caoshu draft script 楷書 kaishu regular script

22. 22 篆書 zhuanshu seal script

23. 23 篆書 zhuanshu seal script All strokes are of equal and uniform thickness, and end in blunt tips Corners are rounded The height of the character exceeds its width

24. 24 隸書 lishu chancery script

25. 25 隸書 lishu chancery script Modulated strokes of varying thickness Ending sometimes in pointed or jagged ends Square corners Stress width rather than height

26. 26 草書 caoshu draft script

27. 27 草書 caoshu draft script A highly cursive style of writing where even the most complicated characters are reduced to a few dots and scrawls. A “free” style of painting

28. 28 楷書 kaishu regular script

29. 29 楷書 kaishu regular script Standard style of writing and printing Strokes of varying thickness Width and height are approximately the same

30. 30 An imitation of Wang Xianzhi 王獻之 (344–386)

31. 31 A letter by Mi Fu (米芾, 1051–1107)

32. 32 Calligraphy by Emperor Huizong ( 宋徽宗 趙佶, 1082–1135)

33. Calligraphy of Boyuan Art House, by Jia Youfu 33

34. 34 5. Materials used The Four Treasures of the Study: 文房四寶 Brush 筆 Ink 墨 Paper 紙 Inkstone 硯

35. 35 6. How to hold a brush?

36. 36 How to hold a brush?

37. 37 7. The eight basic strokes

38. 38 8. Exercise: drawing lines

39. 39 9. Exercise: writing the character 永 (Yong: “for ever”)

40. 10. The end Boyuan Art House Galerie en atelier voor hedendaagse Chinese kunst, Den Haag www.boyuan.nl [email protected] of [email protected] Tel. [phone]