The exhibition titled “Scattering Mist—--Chen Shih-Hsien Imagery Calligraphy Exhibition” will be held in a historic brick building with over a century of history. In this space with rich heritage, the exhibition hopes to ignite an engaging dialogue between the colonial past of the architecture and the fluid strokes of calligraphy.
Helming the exhibition is Chen Shih-Hsien, a legendary contemporary calligrapher born, raised and currently based in Taiwan. He is often credited for redefining the boundaries of this classical art form by blurring the line between text and visual art. Affectionately known as the “pigsty calligrapher, Chen embarked on a transformative journey after completing his military service, spending 13 years in his father’s abandoned pigsty immersed in reading, rural walkings, film appreciation, and calligraphy creation. This period of introspection and artistic exploration became nutrients for Chen’s artistic growth and imbued his work with vitality and emotional depth. Having mastered all styles of classical Chinese calligraphy by the age of 26, he decided to step away from competitions and focus on forging his own artistic path. By the age of 30, he spearheaded the development of Imagery Calligraphy, an artistic style combining texts, ink, and spatial composition to evoke metaphors, stories, and free associations. Chen’s works are renowned for their rich and expressive qualities, reminding us of the beauty of essential elements of calligraphy, such as points, lines, and planes.
The scattering misty effect created on this series of artworks arises from the intermingling of water and ink. This interaction reveals three stages of self-discovering journey that the exhibition wishes to convey: the first is ambiguity, the second is development, and the third is clarity. The motion toward clarity symbolizes the transition from uncertainty to revelation.
The theme of this exhibition, “Scattering Mist“, invites viewers to reflect on how these fundamental elements of calligraphy can serve as tools to explore and understand Taiwan’s complex past and the resulting social polarization over what it means to be Taiwanese. The exhibition seeks to examine if artistic expression can inspire a collective understanding of national identity amidst social and cultural divisions, and is designed to create a spatial dialogue through the subtle movements of ink and lines. Through the interaction between brushstrokes, light, and space, Chen Shih-Hsien hopes to challenge and encourage us to initiate internal and external dialogues regarding identity however difficult these conversations may be.
Get ready for some introspection and inspiration as we warmly invite you to immerse yourself within the poetic movements of Chen Shi-Hsien’s brushstrokes.