Spotlight on
Chinese Calligraphy

Taiyuan Jinbaozhai Art Gallery displays work by famous Chinese calligraphers including those by Zhao Guozhu

In autumn of 2005, at Taiyuan Jinbaozhai Art Gallery, Zhao Guozhu took part in the Taiyuan Five-Person Calligraphy Exhibition, the title of which was penned by Zhang Hai, a famous calligrapher. Of the 40 or so works he entered, the 18-meter-long scroll of calligraphy done in cursive script -inscribed with a poem by Tang Dynasty Li Bai entitled the 18-meter-long scroll of Mount Lu-to Censor Lu Xuzhou, h ad attracted the attention of Taiyuan calligraphy circles from start to finish.
Soon after the exhibition, he said he showed this long scroll of calligraphy to Wang Hongxun, a Beijing-based celebrated connoisseur of Chinese paintings and calligraphy and former General Manager of the Auction Company with Rongbaozhai Art Gallery, for his review. In front of him, Wang gave it more praise than criticism. When he heard that he was going to send the scroll to the respected Mr. Huang Miaozi for his evaluation, he said he was pleasantly surprised."Although he was much younger than them, he said he has been an old friend of Mr. and Mrs. Huang's,"HWang said. "Not only does the couple possess both artistic and moral sensibility, they are also nice and friendly. They have been showering him with tender loving care. They also pay particular attention to new talents."For a moment, he was quite at a loss to express my gratitude for his great favor.
As far as I know, veteran artists coming of age in the 1930s are few and far between in China. At that time, "Erliutang"or "Second Rate Salon,"nicknamed by none other than Guo Moruo, was home to a galaxy of literary figures in modern Chinese history--such as Xia Yan, Tang Yu, Wu Zuguang, Ye Qianyu, Ding Cong--who have made monumental and memorable contributions to the cultural cause of modern China, in particular of New China. Mr. and Mrs. Huang are exactly among those venerable, accomplished and much-admired artists. He has long looked up to Mr. Huang, a well-known art critic and master calligrapher in China.
As one of a later generation, Zhao said he consider it a stroke of luck that I could get some helpful pointers from the couple.
He was keeping his fingers crossed that this incredible piece of luck would fall on him , just like "manna from heaven. Just a week later, Zhao said he received a call from Mr. Wang. His first sentence was Mr. Huang has written a colophon for your scroll: Dian Zhang Zui Su (Crazy Zhang, Drunken Su), four characters in large seal script.Before Zhao could say anything, he regaled him with a blow-by-blow account of how the couple critiqued his humble piece of artwork.
In Mr. Huang's living room, Mr. Wang, while slowly rolling out the scroll, gave the husband and wife a short profile of him. The two artists looked closely at his work, nodding their approval occasionally. After careful scrutiny, the 92-year-old Huang said, "It is really not easy for an official, who have to deal with heavy workload, to settle down to practicing calligraphy." "Yes, yes, it is indeed a good piece of calligraphic work!"the 89-year-old Mrs.
Huang chimed in. "It's usually tough composing such a long scroll,"Mr. Huang commented. But the composition of this piece is perfect, with every character well-structured, boldly natural, revealing a transcendent beauty. He sophisticated in brush manipulation too. Mrs. Huang said, It looks a bit like Zhang Zhengyu's style. "yes, it has Zhang Zhengyu's flair,agreed Mrs. Huang. What's more it's coherent and elegant."The old couple vied with each other to offer their opinions. The author is young, with a great future. Is he fifty years old already's asked Mr. Huang. He just turned fifty. Wang replied. "Well, wonderful. Huang nodded, adding, "I will write four characters for his work. If possible, I will find time to have them written out tomorrow."
On the afternoon of the following day, Mr. Wang was invited to Capital Garden Restaurant. There, Mr. Huang was having a dinner party in honor of his sister from Hong Kong and an interview crew from CCTV. The atmosphere was harmonious and both hosts and guests waxed lyrical.
The hale and hearty gentleman talked again with Mr. Wang about the colophon. "When Chairman Mao appraised the styles of Zhang Xu and Huai Su, he described them as Crazy Zhang and Drunken Su,"Huang said. Since that scroll bears a resemblance of their styles, I decide to write those four words. "The next day, Mr. Wang came to Mr. Huang's house. When Mr. Huang presented his inscription, Wang clicked the shutter, capturing the precious moment of Huang's introducing the colophon. Then Mr. Huang took out the envelope containing reward for the write-up, which was stealthily left by Mr. Wang, and said in all earnestness, There is absolutely no need to do this. He appreciate his kindness. His progress is the best reward to me, Zhao said. While saying this, he wrote down on the envelope four sinewy characters'I appreciate your kindness in fountain pen. Since he has a deft execution of brush stroke, Huang said, seeing an unhappy Wang, "I suppose that he? got some quality brush pens. Why don't you let him find a couple of brush pens for me?"
Later on Zhao asked Mr. Wang to send him the two less-than-200-yuan brush pens that he used to create the work.
He is full of respect and admiration whenever he look over the photograph of the colophon and hold up the I appreciate your kindness envelope. An uplifting feeling comes over him. He could not help but think of the famous quote of the German Philosopher Immanuel Kant: Only ethics and those individuals with ethics should be respected.
"I appreciate your kindness,"the four inspiring words, have taught me a lot; the calligraphy of Crazy Zhang and Drunken Su are so classic and elegant that I, as a pupil, can hold a candle to them. But Mr. Huang's words of encouragement will forever invigorate me ethically and professionally. As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should seize any opportunity to strive for self-cultivation.
To hold up the inscription is to see Mr. Huang.
Zhao said he wishes that Mr. and Mrs. Huang would stay forever young, happy and healthy, and that they would march forward, hand in hand, through their entire lifetime. nw