Information
Type
exhibition
Category
Programme ➔ Main Programme ➔ Edge Street Programme (1997-2003)
Date(s)
1999 Apr 19 (is beginning date)
1999 Jun 11 (has end date)
History
An exhibition of large scale works of contemporary calligraphy by Chinese artist Chen Guangwu. Curated by Karen Smith.
Trained by a calligraphy master, Chen produced his works using traditional calligraphy techniques to write words and characters on rice paper. However, the artist had developed his own style, writing his characters close together from the top right hand corner, across in rows down to the bottom of full sized sheets of rice paper, and in most cases, writing the words may layers thick. The works demonstrated his precision and control to ensure that every layer of text was clear.
The regularity of the text suggested the format of a block print or a decorative paper. Each work featured a myriad of readings to be interpreted by the viewer. By obscuring the language and its meaning, the artist made each work a superficial piece of rhetoric which is absorbed by the senses before the viewer the viewer discovered that there is no substance or meaning.
The exhibition included the following works: Radicals 1-5 Strokes (1998); Full Stop: Punctuation Series (1997); Grass Script (Cao Shu) text (1998); Horizontals (1999); five elements (metal wood water fire earth): Wood (1997); Boundaries (1999); Grass Script II (Cao Shu II) (1999).