China in Lettering

194 X 130 cm     ac     2007

Great in number, rich in variety, meaningful in suggestion, and harmonious in structure-Chinese characters are a beautiful and unique visual manifestation of the universe and all of its creation. The invention of Chinese characters 5,000 years ago can be regarded as one of the most significant milestones in humanity-one that profoundly shaped Chinese civilization and influenced her neighbors. To utilize visual symbols instead of recorded sounds to capture language made writing into a kind of visual art called calligraphy.Among the many styles of Chinese calligraphy that developed, the“Zhuan” style of Emperor Qin is often considered the most authentic style, probably inspired by his glorious unification of China.Here, Dr. T.F. Chen tried to express the importance of Chinese character in the formulation of China and her culture through the presentation of Qin’s “authentic” writing in an aesthetic way, with the Tiananmen Gate and the Temple of Heaven symbolizing an eternal China.