From May 25th to August 27th, the University of Cambridge is hosting an exhibition called Ink. Space. Time. This exhibition is showcasing the impressive contemporary Chinese calligraphy work of Wang Dongling, a renowned calligrapher and professor at the China Academy of Art. The pieces on display were inspired by the work of Professor Stephen Hawking.
Wang Dongling is considered one of the most skilled Chinese calligraphy artists alive today. His artwork is showcased in various public collections, such as the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Calligraphy has been regarded as one of the Scholar’s Four Arts or siyi in Chinese for more than two thousand years. Wang, a master calligrapher with classical training, has dedicated 60 years of his career to reviving calligraphy for modern audiences. His work coincided with the development of contemporary art in China.
The art pieces showcased are written in Wang’s unique style of script called luanshu, which is also known as “chaos script” or “entangled writing”. Rather than focusing on legibility, luanshu emphasizes the aesthetic and expressive qualities of writing through gestural and sensual movements. Wang’s luanshu incorporates free-flowing curves and lines that are inspired by traditional systems of expression while also breaking away from them.
Wang Dongling’s art exhibit, Ink. Space. Time., draws inspiration from the Daodejing by Laozi and the writings of Stephen Hawking. Both texts explore the nature of the universe, space, and time. Through Wang Dongling’s unique artistic style, the texts become indecipherable, but still convey a profound understanding of the power of language. The exhibit is a testament to the lasting impact of intellectual ideas and their ability to transform our understanding of the universe.
According to Gao Shiming, the President of the China Academy of Art, Wang’s luanshu can be seen as a Chinese version of Balzac’s metaphor. Wang’s work showcases the interplay between order and chaos, boundlessness and impermanence, as well as multi-polarity and apolarity. Luanshu appears to respond to the initial chaos of the Big Bang, as discussed in Stephen Hawking’s writings.
Lucy Hawking, daughter of Prof. Stephen Hawking, praised the exhibition Ink. Space. Time for its pairing of her father’s writings with those of Laozi, noting how both figures explored the vastness of the universe. Chinese artist Wang showcased his own calligraphy work, including a unique luanshu piece, as well as a demonstration of his acrylic paint handwriting technique related to Cambridge. Additionally, Wang gave a lecture on contemporary calligraphy art and led a calligraphy writing workshop in Cambridge. Overall, Wang’s exhibition beautifully connects the works of these historic figures.
As Wang himself puts it, “I want to take this opportunity to promote the exchanges between China and the United Kingdom using the universal language of art.”
