Michigan Oriental Art Society
Sunday, May 10, 2015
St John Hospital-Oakland Education Center, 27351 Dequindre Rd, Madison Heights
(between 11 Mile and 12 Mile Rds)
Social Time at 1:30 pm, Meeting at 2:00
pm.
The Art of Chinese
Calligraphy
Dr. SuiWah Chan
On
the subject of Chinese writing, there is deceptively more than meets the eye.
Although a mature form of Chinese writing has existed for at least 3,500 years,
many, if not most of its cognitive, philosophical, and artistic underpinnings
are not immediately apparent or may be presented as shrouded in myth.
The
relationship between Chinese writing and calligraphy is like that of form and
shadow - one cannot be separated from the other without detracting from its
meaning. The versatility of the Chinese written character and its ability to
express poetry and philosophy as well as conveying emotion and a strong sense
of beauty in visual artistry are considered by many to be unparalleled.
Undoubtedly Chinese writing has a unique world heritage as an art form for
human communication.
The
presentation by Dr. SuiWah Chan will highlight first findings on the origins
and evolution of Chinese writing and shed some light on the influence of
written text in the broader context of Chinese culture. In the second part he
will present different historic scripts and styles and finally in the third
part he will use calligraphic brush works to elucidate some of the most
outstanding ideas of aesthetics of this unique art form.
Dr.
SuiWah Chan is Professor Emeritus of Medical Education at Michigan State University
and a lecturer in Chinese history of culture at the School of Education of University
of Michigan. Since 1997 he has studied
early Chinese writing on oracle bones and has practiced calligraphy. He gives
lectures and conduct workshops on the teaching of Chinese history of culture
with emphasis on etymology of Chinese writing. His exhibition “Genesis of
Chinese Writing and the Art of Calligraphy” was premiered at the UMMA and has
been on tour at more than 40 colleges in the United States. In 2014 the first
iPad app iWrite Wenzi for Chinese
writing based on etymology was launched by Chinese Writing Systems, the company
he founded in 2009.
