Cross-Strait festival celebrates Chinese character art as the event features young artists and an art carnival.
Calligraphy and seal-carving artworks by 200 leading artists from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are on display at the 2024 Cross-Strait Chinese Character Culture & Art Festival, which began on Saturday in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
The festival, open until December 3, also includes an exhibition of creative works focused on Chinese characters by young artists and an art carnival featuring 18 calligraphy and seal-carving groups, celebrating the appeal of Chinese characters and traditional culture.
In his opening speech, Liu Chao-shiuan, chairman of the Foundation of Chinese Culture for Sustainable Development, described the festival as both an artistic celebration and an opportunity for cross-Strait cultural collaboration and people-to-people engagement.
“Chinese characters symbolize and convey the culture shared by both sides of the Strait. We aim to use them as a bridge to spark the vibrancy of traditional culture through artistic exchanges,” Liu stated.
The event is co-organized by Taiwan’s Foundation of Chinese Culture for Sustainable Development and the Chinese National Academy of Arts on the mainland, alternating annually between Taiwan and the mainland since its inception in 2010.
Zhou Qingfu, president of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, delivered a video message noting the festival’s role as both a cultural event and a bridge for connection.
“Through this gathering, we deepen mutual understanding, build trust, and grow closer. Let us continue to preserve our artistic traditions, foster mutual understanding, and promote Chinese culture together,” Zhou emphasized.
Chinese Character Art Preservation
This year’s exhibition highlights works from 100 mainland artists and 100 from Taiwan, all inspired by themes from the Three Kingdoms era.
Huang Zhi-yang, a calligrapher and dean at Taiwan’s Huafan University, stressed the joint responsibility of both sides to preserve Chinese character art, a key component of Chinese heritage.
“Through exchanges like this, artists from both sides can appreciate, inspire, and learn from each other’s works,” Huang noted.
The event also showcases 100 exceptional works by young artists aged 12 to 25, with 60 entries from Taiwan and 40 from the mainland.
Lu Chi-hui, a high school senior who has practiced calligraphy for almost a decade, received an excellence award for her piece.
“My favorite calligrapher is Chu Suiliang, and I hope to see his inscriptions in Xi’an someday,” Lu said. “Nowadays, most people type on phones, reducing the chances to write by hand. I aspire to teach calligraphy to help preserve this art form.”
The opening day featured an art carnival with 18 calligraphy and seal-carving groups and traditional stationery stores offering interactive activities such as brush-making, seal carving, water-based printing, handwritten couplets, and ink rubbings. Many families with children participated in these traditional cultural experiences.
Additional activities included live calligraphy demonstrations and a forum on the development of Chinese character art in contemporary society.
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