calligraphy BM-2002-0130-0.13.a-b

Period:Unknown Production date:1995
Materials:paper
Technique:
Subjects:calligraphy reading/writing
Dimensions:Height: 138 centimetres Width: 34 centimetres

Description:
Two scrolls of calligraphy, made of ink on paper. The eight characters are written in a style that combines oracle bone and seal script in the following quotation, attributed to Confucius: “Through cultivating yourself, you develop a sense of shame. / Through reading widely, you attain broad knowledge”.
IMG


Comments:Barrass, 2002:This piece reflects the indignation of the artist towards the decline in cultural standards and the rise in corruption he observed once he was alloud to return to China in 1994.The combined authority of these two scripts makes the piece appear to convey some ‘divine commandment’; however, even educated people find the piece difficult to read unless they recognize the quotation.