Curated by Ouyang Jianghe and Xie Xiaoze
In Chinese history, “literati calligraphy” has long been considered an elite art form. In this tradition, calligraphy is not merely a form of visual or verbal expression; it is an embodiment of thought, character, and intellect. To write is to think, and to inscribe characters is to make the mind and heart visible.
The interchange between calligraphy and painting forms an important strand in Chinese abstraction. Text has appeared in visual works throughout a long, rich history. Language is the prima materia of thought, and perhaps is even thought itself. Words flash, extinguish, and linger in the mind.
In Western contemporary art, incorporating text and combining image with text is commonplace. Conceptual art often takes advantage of the directness and abstraction of language itself to reduce or even remove the visual aspects of traditional art. The nineteen outstanding calligraphers, writers, and artists in this exhibition move fluently between disciplines: literature, philosophy, abstraction, and conceptual art. In their hands, calligraphy becomes its own language, defying legibility and reimagining tradition.
Featured Artists: Fong Chung-ray, Gu Wenda, Wang Tiande, Xie Xiaoze, Xu Bing, Yang Jiechang, Zhang Xiaogang
Featured Calligraphers: Gu Gan, Liu Zhengcheng, Shao Yan, Wang Dongling, Yang Tao, Yu Mingquan, Zhao Xuesong
Featured Writers: Jia Pingwa, Li Xianting, Ouyang Jianghe, Xi Chuan, Yu Jian
At Ease with Hand and Mind will be open to the public from July 27 to September 27, 2025, with an opening celebration hosted on Sunday, July 27, from 4:30-6:30 PM PST.
Concurrently with the exhibition, an academic symposium will be held in Beijing, China.
