Join China Institute Gallery for the third edition of Artist Talk at the 8th annual Orchid Pavilion Gathering. Three master calligraphers’ works will be introduced by the artists and collector, with a special introduction to an ancient work that takes Orchid Pavilion as its subject. Willow Weilan Hai 海蔚蓝, SVP, Director, and Chief Curator of China Institute Gallery, will host the discussion.
China Institute Gallery’s Orchid Pavilion Gathering is an annual event celebrating the spirit of the famous gathering conducted by Calligrapher Sage Wang Xizhi (307-365) in the spring of 353 BC. Settled along the zigzagged stream at Mount Kuaiji, today’s Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, the guests played drinking games and composed poems. On the spot, the tipsy Wang Xizhi spontaneously created a prose and calligraphy. The great masterpiece of running script “Preface of Orchid Pavilion” was thus born and has influenced the calligraphy world since then. Today’s event will recall this remarkable historical gathering, through a special introduction by David Wang on a rare Song dynasty rubbing of the calligraphy work Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion (Lantingji Xu 兰亭集序) followed by presentations from speakers:
Yu Erke 俞尔科 will talk about the intrinsic connection between Traditional Chinese Medicine and calligraphy, as well as the role of calligraphy in having an overall beneficial effect on one’s health.
Cui Xuelu 崔学路 will discuss the meaning of “Calligraphy Dao (or Tao, trans. the way of calligraphy)” from his experience, which could be gained through the practices of reading, studying, and imitating the classic masterworks, to reach the stage of writing from the heart, a way of embodying the spirit of calligraphy.
Wang Shaofang 王少方 will trace the life and works of his father Wang Fangyu 王方宇, a true “wenren” (trans. literati) of the 20th century, and his characteristic modernized calligraphy.
Reception with light refreshments and wine to follow
Illustration: Song Rubbing of Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion (detail), ink rubbing on paper, handscroll, 10 1/3 x 24 3/4 in. (26.3 x 63cm). Private Collection.
The Lead Sponsors of the exhibition and its accompanying public programs are the Abel & Sophia Sheng Foundation and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional support has been provided by: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York; Dame Jillian and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler Foundation for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities; the New York State Council on the Arts; and other individuals and institutional funders.
“Shan Shui Reboot” is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. “Shan Shui Reboot” is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
