The
art of Chinese Calligraphy has developed within a cultural environment from remote periods
of Chinese antiquity and is surrounded by special characteristics.
It is one of the more intense expressions of the intelligence and creativity of its
people.
Calligraphy is a single form of Chinese esthetics living from the interaction of an
objective and a subjective multifacet world, to a point where it reached a philosophical
profoundness. Each stroke of its characters is the result of a careful meditation
reflecting "Dao" and simultaneously allowing the transparency of the artist's
personality as well as his concept of the cosmos.
Besides taking into account the esthetic elements and revealing characteristics of a
people this art becomes personal, mirroring the artist whom produced it.
So Shu Fai from an early age showed an interest for Calligraphy. From his studies he
developed styles that were similar to other well know artists. At present although he has
a hectic professional life he insists in continuing to further his knowledge of this art.
He founded with some of his friends various associations, one of which being the
"Association of Chinese Cultural Arts of Macau" giving incentive to the exchange
of Calligraphy.
As much as at the beginning as at the end of this century, there was an attempt to destroy
this art by several less learned people, who alleged that this art was contributing to the
destruction of Chinese traditions. However through the organization of several calligraphy
exhibitions with works of So Shu Fai, it was proved that Calligraphy is but a Historic
Testimony of Chinas Strong Vital Culture. As Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel said
"Tradition is not a stone statue, but a River full of Vitality, that the greater its
distance from the source the bigger its waves are".
It is with great pleasure that the Cultural Institute of Macau is organizing this
exhibition in the Museum of Macau. I am convinced that this will be an inspiration no only
for the learned but also for the public in general.
The President of the Cultural
Institute of Macau
Wang Zeng Yang
August, 1999
Contemporary
Calligraphers have the tendency to learn a style of calligraphy from Huang Dao Zhou and Ni
Yuan Lu, who lived during the final period of the Ming
Dynasty. We believe that Shen Mai Shou, from the IXX century and Tai Jing Nong from
contemporary times were the ones most successful within this field. The Professor Jao
Tsung-I considered that Mr. Ambrose So Shu Fai possessed "A profound capability to
imitate the calligraphy of Mr. Tai, almost being identical". Those that already
appreciate the works of Mr. So are of equal opinion.
Twenty years ago Mr. Jao Tsung-I lamented "Nowadays the University Professors who
teach Chinese Language do not know how to write characters with a brush and the Professors
whom teach art are not skilled to draw with a brush". But after studying in the
last year the imitation of calligraphy of Wang Duo by Zahang Wu Chang, Professor of
economics at the Hong Kong University and in the current year, that of Mr. Ambrose So Shu
fai, the signatory is convinced that even though the professional opinion is that Chinese
Calligraphy is not an easy art to master, it has been well adopted by different
professionals and social levels.
Prof. Sheung Chung-Ho
summer, 1999
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