Who are the people learning Chinese painting and calligraphy here?
Are there younger people picking up the skills? There are more female than male artists here. Most of them are in their 40s and 50s. It is unfortunate that there are not many learners in their 20s. If this does not change, these arts will disappear, which is a great pity. How does your command of Mandarin help in your practice of Chinese painting and calligraphy? You are required to understand Chinese words for calligraphy. Calligraphy is also required in Chinese painting, though a painter can get someone else to write if he cannot do it well. Still, it is not the preserve of the Chinese people. My calligraphy teacher has had a Caucasian student. Some Caucasians have a better command of the language than some Chinese. cheryll@sph.com.sg For more my paper stories, click here.
