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A Dimension to be Found: Hakka Narrative in Calligraphy

Dates: 2023. 8. 11 - 2023. 10. 30 （Soft Opening: 8.8 - 8.10, free ticket）

Curator: Wu, Yi-ting

Overview

This exhibition attempts to reexamine the achievements of Hakka calligraphers in Taiwan, exploring the artistic dissemination chain and literary influence driven by ethnic migration, in response to the theme of the 2023 Hakka Expo in Taoyuan, “Travel to Tomorrow,” while also discovering and opening up new perspectives in Taiwan's calligraphy history.

Through a selection of works spanning from 1917 to 2023, this exhibition reexamines the calligraphy artistry of the Hakka community in Taiwan. Starting from the densely populated Hakka areas of Taoyuan and Hsinchu, the focus shifts from individual styles to an overview of the community, attempting to trace the century-long trajectory of Hakka calligraphy. Simultaneously, drawing inspiration from Hakka literature, the exhibition establishes connections between the diverse styles of contemporary calligraphy artists, collectively contributing to the continuation of Hakka culture.

The four sections of the exhibition show the various aspects of Hakka calligraphy. “Embodying the Memory” explores the Hakka community's traditional reverence for written words and their ancestral wisdom. “Transcribing the Legacy” delves into the efforts of the Hakka gentry during the Japanese colonial period to uphold Han Chinese culture. “Calligraphing for the Communities” showcases collaborations and critiques between post-war artists and authorities, as well as poetic reflections on daily life. “Unstoppable exploration” focuses on contemporary artists breaking through artistic forms to respond to the multiple possibilities of Hakka texts, ultimately leading to identity recognition with the Hakka heritage.

H.C.A.C., 2023 Hakka Expo sub-exhibition area will exhibit “A Dimension to be Found: Hakka Narrative in Calligraphy, ”begins in 11^th August to 30^th October, 2023. The exhibition continues in 80 days, including 41 artists and 47 pieces of artworks, on loan from public and private collection, and also commissioned artworks.