City Rhymes: The Melodious Notes of Calligraphy

EVENT DESCRIPTION

An exhibition entitled “City Rhymes: The Melodious Notes of Calligraphy” will be held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA). The exhibition features over 70 artworks by Hong Kong artists from the collection of the HKMoA. Through the perspectives of poetry, dance, painting and music, the exhibition allows audiences to enjoy a journey to explore the relationship between calligraphy and life, while discovering calligraphy-inspired contemporary artworks. The exhibition brings together artists from a wide range of disciplines, offering a diverse and extraordinary viewing experience that presents the unique aesthetics of calligraphy.

Chinese calligraphy is the only script-based form of art that has thrived for over a millennium in the course of human civilisation. From purely a medium of communication, it has evolved into an embodiment of an abstract aesthetic that represents the calligrapher’s spirit and sentiments.

This exhibition showcases different calligraphy scripts. Highlighted exhibits include “Poem in seal script” by Deng Erya, “Couplet in regular script” by Au Kin-kung, “Poem of orchid in clerical script” by Ou Dawei, “Couplet in clerical script” by Luo Shuzhong, “Gold calligraphy in oracle bone script” by Jao Tsung-i, “Poem in running script” by Chao Shao-an, and “Lyrics of Tourbillon by Wyman Wong in cursive script” by Chui Pui-chee. By exploring the interplay between calligraphy, prose and poetry, dance, painting and music, the exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to discover the essence of calligraphic works through the lens of their own knowledge and interests. They can also re-examine the significance of preserving and continuing cultural traditions amid the rapid advances in technology.

Works by local artists of different disciplines are also featured, echoing the calligraphic works in the exhibition. Director Cheuk Cheung and choreographer Ong Yong-lock created a dance video installation, in which the dancer echoes each stroke of the calligraphy with force, posture, and rhythm. Composer and sound artist Alain Chiu created a series of sound works, with an ingenious melody that flows through the gallery, echoing the lively brushwork. Multimedia artist Ng Tsz-kwan captured the 3D information of calligraphers using volumetric video, and recreated their movements with 3D animation techniques on two projection walls to stimulate the viewer’s imagination. A number of writers, poets, artists, and scholars have responded to the calligraphic works through writings or videos based on their professional expertise and personal experiences.