Washington DC plays host to Ming Dynasty era artworks

A rare selection of artwork from the Ming Dynasty is on exhibit at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington DC. It celebrates the work of some of China's most revered artists.

"Painting with Words" exhibition features 45 Chinese scrolls and album leaves, some dating back more than 500 years, most of them created by artists from  Wu School for gentlemen. Active between the 15th and 17th centuries, during China's Ming Dynasty, their art encompassed painting, poetry and calligraphy – the art of handwriting.

"I think the largest misconception about calligraphy is that it is simply a graphic art. For the Chinese, calligraphy is the art of performance, and it is the act of creation that is important. A Chinese viewer looking at the calligraphy will trace the root of the brush and look at each of the creative choices that the artist has made. That is exceptionally difficult to get across to a Western audience," said Stephen D. Allee, associate curator for Chinese Painting & Calligraphy.

Chinese calligraphy - called "shufa" - is done with a brush instead of a pen. The Wu School was seen as a vehicle of self-expression where artists would merge calligraphy, poetry and painting, all in one form of art. During the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese considered the combination of these three forms the ultimate expression of Chinese culture - calling them the "Three Perfections." Such perfection you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere in the West.

Freer and Sackler certainly has the largest collection of Ming and Ching paintings and calligraphy outside China. The exhibition will be open till July 24th.

Washington DC plays host to Ming Dynasty era artworks

Source: english.cctv.com