Dr. Daniel Chak Kwong Lau, Artist-in-Residence of Cheng Yu Tung College: Courtyard Calligraphy

Cheng Yu Tung College invites Dr. Daniel Lau to be the first Artist-in-Residence from Feb. 16 to 20, 2016. Dr. Lau, a renowned Chinese calligrapher and seal engraver, has held solo exhibitions and was invited to many important joint exhibitions. With a Ph.D. in art history from University of California, Santa Barbara, he is currently Associate Professor in Visual Arts Academy of Hong Kong Baptist University. During his stay as our Artist-in-Residence, many activities were held, including an exhibition of his works of calligraphy and seal engraving, a calligraphy performance, artist talk, lecture, and workshops. Four activities were held on Feb. 17. Dr. Lau placed six square pieces of canvas on the ground of CYTC’s central courtyard, and wrote six big ink characters with a large brush. The six words are the College mottos: noble aspiration, love and care, and cultural refinement. More than sixty teachers and students from the College and the University witnessed this art creativity at a site surrounded by trees and meadow. In the opening ceremony of “Breakthrough—Exhibition of Calligraphy and Seal Engraving by Dr. Daniel Chak Kwong Lau”, the ribbon cutting was done by Vice Rector Haydn Chan, Dr. Daniel Lau, Master Chung Ling, Master Iu Vai Pan, Master David Liu, Dean Jacky So, Professor Jin Shuren, Dr. Tam Sit Chung, Dr. Zhang Zexun, and chairperson of Macau University’s Calligraphy Club, Wei Yiwei. The audience entered the exhibition room to listen to his deep analysis on his own work and on a video of his new project on writing on canvases placed in the great earth. His lecture “Stele School and Model-book School: Heritage and Innovation of Chinese Calligraphy” was attended by more than 40 audience. The discussion was fervent and Dr. Lau commented that the knowledge on calligraphy of our students was broad. In the following two days, Dr. Lau gave two workshops: Seal Characters Workshop and Clerk Style Character Workshop. Instructed by Dr. Lau, the participants’ learning is fruitful.

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