An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy

Calligrapher Xu Bing Chinese

1994–96

Not on view

Returned to lender

This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.

In the early 1990s, Xu began to develop a system for writing English called “square word calligraphy,” which organizes the letters of each English word into structures that resemble Chinese characters. One consequence of his project is that non-Chinese speakers can understand how Chinese characters are similarly composed of discrete phonetic and lexigraphic components. An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy expands on the didactic potential of the new script by offering directions for how to prepare ink, hold a brush, and execute individual brushstrokes. In the process of deciphering Xu’s text, viewers break down cultural barriers. Square word calligraphy helps demystify the Chinese written language, making the pleasures of calligraphy available to a wider audience.

Artwork Details

Overview

Exhibition History

References

Title: An Introduction to Square Word Calligraphy
Calligrapher: Xu Bing (born 1955)
Date: 1994–96
Culture: China
Medium: Handscroll; ink on paper
Dimensions: Image: 19 in. × 17 ft. (48.3 × 518.2 cm)
Overall with mounting: 19 in. × 18 ft. 6 in. (48.3 × 563.9 cm)
Classification: Calligraphy
Credit Line: Lent by a private collection, New York
Curatorial Department: Asian Art