Calligraphying the Tainan Area With Chen Shih-hsien
Résumé
This paper revolves around the topic of visual arts, and more specifically the secular tradition of Chinese calligraphy. It examines how this art, embodying “the kernel of Chinese culture”, may also be devoted to promoting and praising the specificities and beauties of a small region, without jettisoning its artistic value. In the field of visual arts, Tainan not only hosts museums, and countless temples, art galleries and exhibitions, but it also was the cradle of outstanding artists, such as calligrapher Chen Shih-hsien. The example of this artist offers us the opportunity: 1/ to examine the relationship between the centre and the periphery, 2/ to consider the question of local identity, and finally 3/ to study the issue of “territoriality”, and of the graphic writing of a specific place.
Chen Shih-hsien, born in 1966, has acquired an international aura, his artworks are exhibited all around the world (France, Germany, Japan, Korea, United States, etc.). He uses the Chinese traditional art of the brush to express the spirit of the Tainan people, and also the specificities of the places (cities, villages) themselves. Chen Shih-hsien lives in a small village called Bai-ho (White River), Tainan District. Oneof the first characteristics of his calligraphies, accounting for his fame, was to write “white river” suggesting the growth of the plentiful lotuses of his hometown, adding their colours, instead of
simply writing the two words with black ink.
The methodology confronts the artworks, the technique of Chen Shih-hsien, and the traditional way of calligraphying, and it attempts to underline the artist’s originality and novelty. The philosophical tool of the calligrapher is the “expression of emotions”, a classical theme in Chinese calligraphy. Thus, the paper examines the questions of the materiality and immateriality of culture and art, through the issue of territory and of place, as well as political, social, religious, cultural
stakes that arise from the relationships between an artist and a specific area.
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