A bit of artistic insight | Don’t let the flow of traffic and popularity mask the gap in aesthetic education

Both Feng Tang and Liu Xiaoqing made their forays into the world of calligraphy based on their existing social status and made commercial choices. Zeng Xiang’s “yelling calligraphy” was an attempt by adults to attract attention. However, Li Ming, who is 13 years old, is completely different. His rise to fame was entirely driven by the promotion of popularity, and fundamentally, he was an object consumed by the popularity.

Li Ming’s handwriting is smooth and bold, but it doesn’t qualify as “calligraphy”. The essence of calligraphy lies in inheriting the core of traditional calligraphy works, mastering the composition and the artistic conception, and conveying the subtle and simple cultural aesthetics. However, his writing is “dependent on the pen as the form”, emphasizing the external form while neglecting the cultural core. This reveals the serious deficiency in the aesthetic education of calligraphy among teenagers. Good calligraphy aesthetic education should guide children to copy calligraphy works to understand the past, and understand the cultural connotations behind the brushstrokes. But in Li Ming’s growth process, there was precisely a lack of such guidance. Even laypeople mistook “coarse” for talent, blurring the aesthetic boundaries of calligraphy.

Art is not an innovation without a source. Picasso pioneered Cubism, but by the age of 13, his drawing skills were already very solid. The same is true for his innovation in calligraphy. It requires a solid foundation in traditional culture. If Li Ming is constantly pursued by popularity, it will not only delay his prime years for delving into traditional culture, but also may cause more teenagers to misunderstand the essence of calligraphy and sever its connection with traditional culture.

When the essence of traditional aesthetics cannot be passed down, what will ultimately be damaged is the core value of calligraphy as a cultural carrier.

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.