Posted: January/15/2010 at 12:43pm - IP Logged	Region: Global

Editor's Note

Calligraphy is an important part of Chinese culture, not only expressing ideas, but also having a high aesthetic value. It is deeply loved by Chinese people.  Celebrities and masters in this circle have no shortage. But the one who can use both right and left hands to write calligraphy symmetrically is rare. Junshuo Wu can be called a wizard in this respect. Junshuo Wu was born in Shanghai, China.  He followed Qian Jun Tao, world-class artistic seal cutting master to learn arts. After decades of practice, he has been able to write positive and negative two-kinds calligraphy with both hands at the same time, which is matchless in the circle of calligraphy.  Junshuo Wu immigrated to the U.S in1989. He currently is an executive director of the North American Association of Chinese calligraphy, and Vice President the Global Artists League. Here is the interview with him and his personal art gallery.

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An Interview with " left handed negative calligrapher" Wizards - Junshuo Wu

First of all, please tell us about your main artistic achievements.

I followed Tao Qian Jun, master of world-class artistic seal cutting, to study arts; from calligraphy, seal cutting, to traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, photography, color-burned pot painting and so on. Today, my most remarkable achievements are calligraphy and artistic seal cutting.

What is the uniqueness of your two handed positive and negative calligraphy?

As the excavations of the Tang Dynasty calligrapher Tung Khon Kaen¡¯s left handed calligraphy which had been lost long ago, I began to practice negative calligraphy with my left hand, after decades of practice, I have been able to use two hands at the same time to write positive and negative calligraphy, which was beyond my expectation. The uniqueness of my calligraphy can express the artistic concept and mood of words written with my left and right hands respectively.

Could you talk about the artistic features of your sealing cutting and paintings?

About my sealing cutting, it benefited from the guidance of a famous teacher. It is the most important path for me to enter the artistic environment. "To follow to teacher¡¯s words.¡± My teacher taught me skills, and taught me to be a man, I dare not disobey him. Therefore, my writing, painting can be sure up to the standard, and loyal to people. But we should also strive to innovate such as two hands writing calligraphy, Chinese painting with oil painting materials and so on.

Do you think an artist should show the inner world of self, or should reflect society and influence society?

Artists and society have a variety of views of it; some believe that artists should express themselves. Others want to express society and influence people. I am the latter category; I think that as a part of human being, of a nation and of the society, we should take into account various aspects. If not, we should go higher level, do not be too selfish. Artists should use art to serve the community, to serve the country, and to serve the ideal of mankind. For example; there is a kind of action art; A person who saw the TV series - "living in crammed rooms", He, knowing the pain of mortgage slavery, made a paper room set in his body. He could hardly move with it. He reflected the suffering of common people without enough room living in. The social impact was very good. While as to other so-called action arts, people do not know what he is driving at?

You criticized some works of modern arts; do you think what the correct road for the innovations of modern art should go?

For `modern art, modern calligraphy. I elaborate such topics on my articles -- "my thoughts on contemporary arts", "modern calligraphy show and innovation" on the Internet. Please give your critiques to them. My view is; arts must be displayed according to the laws of arts, you have no say if you do not have an understanding of the basic principles of art, For example; there are many so-called modern calligraphers and artists; they, to please the public, deliberately write words distortedly, saying it was steady with surprise. To make good animal images ugly, it is a kind of deformation. Visual Art such as fine art is the pursuit of beauty. In order to hook reputation, He makes original beautiful things ugly. He is not a good artist!


Do you think that some regulations in the United States are detrimental to the survival and development of artists? How do you defend your rights?

About the conditions of artists immigrated to the United States, it is the same in all countries for new immigrants. I came to the United States 20 years ago, totally unfamiliar with it; I had to sell calligraphy and paintings in 5^th Avenue, New York. The policeman often gave us tickets. Here is really talents hidden land. Many professors, senior portrait artists in anonymity struggle for survival. It is said that heroes come out regardless of place, then, we, more than 100 outdoor artists, organized together and set up a "Global Artists League" to express our demand with solidarity. We filed lawsuit to court, fighting for our rights fearlessly and without any regrets!

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Please install the player first, and use Microsoft IE to view. Please click the image below to enjoy Mr.Wu's 3D personal gallery.

                                                                     Mr.Wu Two Hands Calligraphy Demo