AN APPROACH TO THE CALLIGRAPHY OF LOK HONG

Hu Chuan Hai

Lok Hong's calligraphy work is a clear attempt to refuse the traditional, monotonous models of traditional calligraphy. The literary texts of his choice, the lines, the colour, the model of the characters and the rhythm of the works provide a new and innovative visual meaning which, more than a return to the pictographic writing of the innocent eras of Mankind, constitute a complete innovation vis à vis traditional Chinese calligraphy. Rhythmic lines, combined with pictographic structures charge Lok Hong's works with an harmony between space and time, reason and emotion, that go beyond the traditional limitations revealing and unprecedented dynamism. This new calligraphic style reduces the traditional literary function of calligraphy to penetrate the fields of music, dance, sculpture, and painting among other ramifications of art reflecting the impact of the convergence of cultures and arts on the calligrapher himself.

It wasn't by chance that Lok Hong became an innovative artist after being a traditional calligrapher. While young, he became a famous calligrapher in Shanghai and, together with Han Tian Heng and Cheng Ming Wu was highly appreciated by critics due to his spirit of reform and innovation. After settling in Macau, a city were several different cultures converge, Lok Hong had new visions and gained new knowledge, becoming aware of art as a common language between diverse cultures and races. From there, Lok Hong's calligraphy was subject to a veritable revolution where - contrary to traditional calligraphy where ancestor established models prevail - the priority goes to the ideas that calligraphy is supposed to serve. The works convey his sentiment and depict the whole process of artistic creation, aiming at universal self-reflection on life and existence. His calligraphy creates a set of original symbols readable and understandable by all sorts of people - a vehicle language for all that embrace a passion for Chinese calligraphy.

Culture, like art, are on the path to extinction when they are only intelligible through the support of interpretations and explanations. Native American culture may well be a good example of that. Art is for Lok Hong a visionary instrument to know life and destiny. To stop and restrict ourselves to the creations of the past implies that art will lose its momentum and even that it will lose itself.