Neither presenting nor non-presenting: constructing a methodological framework to re-present Chinese calligraphy -an art burdened with tradition
Tao, Lin (2007) Neither presenting nor non-presenting: constructing a methodological framework to re-present Chinese calligraphy -an art burdened with tradition. PhD thesis, University College for the Creative Arts / University of Kent.
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The research aims to provide an alternative working methodology from the perspective of a contemporary Chinese artist, not a calligrapher, to answer the research question: how does one create new works of calligraphy an art so burdened with historical tradition? This is practice based research; the designed pattern of study aims to test and to exemplify the relationship between theory and practice. As a consequence of understanding the relationship, and also most importantly based on the nature of the investigation and practical necessity, the strategy of the research project is implemented in a dialectical construction as the title of the thesis suggests.
The thesis is accordingly comprised of two parts. Part I is an historical review of the Chinese language, a contextual analysis of the philosophical significance of Chinese calligraphy from an historic perspective, and reflections on those conceptions and theories that have informed the development of the research practice. Part II is a detailed description on the series of research practice, which is presented in two chapters: Chapter 1 describes the daily practice of calligraphy by studying the originals (selected masterpieces of Chinese calligraphy) so as to attain a thorough understanding of the calligraphy - to obtain firsthand knowledge is regarded as vital to the research outcome. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, Chapter 2 features four subsequent, sometimes parallel, individual projects: the painting project, collage project, photography project and video project, which seek to examine key characteristics embodied by Chinese calligraphy and through the descriptions to demonstrate the potential and possibilities within each individual practice in order to re-present this burdened art form through diverse available media (available to the practitioner).
The integration of the two (contradictory) methods of practice into one construction is one of the essential features of this research. The benefit of this methodology as it has been experienced/presented is not losing the depth of the investigation on the one hand, but also covering a broader field of knowledge (ways of presentation) related to the subject on the other hand; as a result, more new works will be generated in the course of the engaged practice.
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of Kent for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy following a programme of study with the University for the Creative Arts.
This thesis has been digitised by the Library at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), for the purposes of preservation and dissemination.
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