“Why I chose calligraphy? It’s an ‘insider art.’ Calligraphy is not only the highest ranked visual art form in China, the content of calligraphy make it a living museum. Typically, there’s this mindset that an ‘old male master’ takes ten years to practice this art, but I’m stepping in to change that. ”
Whether it’s made with a brush composed of a wolves hair, or the first copy of Lantingji Xu [dating back to 353 CE], or Ni Li’s depiction of ancient prose covering a model’s body, Calligraphy reigns as one of the most complex, historic and beautiful art forms. Chinese calligraphy, local name “Shūfǎ”, profoundly translates to something like, “The Law of Writing.”
Los Angeles based Chinese contemporary artist, Ni Li, or Chloe, a name she often goes by, is taking this ancient art form and using it to present Chinese prose in her work. Using an array of unique platforms and canvases, Chloe has blessed the roofs of cars, the deck of longboards and the body of female models with her delicate calligraphy.
Born in Shanghai during a time of immense modernization, Chloe took an interest in calligraphy at an early age, mastering the art form while keeping up with her studies. While in China, she worked as a journalist and show host for one of China's largest television networks before making art her career.
In one of her recent series, FLOW, Chloe masked the decks of skateboards with her familiar prose and poems. In using these materials-- ink and skateboard-- Chloe developed distinct sets of contrast and juxtaposition. Her pieces are exhibits of movement paired with still stories, primeval atop of modern, and a fresh display of East meets West. If you can read Chinese, you’ll be able to see parts of the story Chloe is telling. If you don’t, here are a few short lines from Chloe’s inspiration, Huai Su’s Autobiography (737-799 AD): A rushing snake on the run, a poisonous snake powerful in its seat/ The sounds of torrents and whirlwinds fill the room/ Under the pen, one only sees the flow of arousing electricity/The finished characters scare coiled snakes to flight.
This week, from January 11th-15th 2017, Chloe will be participating in the renowned LA Art Show in downtown Los Angeles. She will be showing her new series, We Are Part of the Culture, a collection of transformed watercolor-paper, giclée images of Chloe’s calligraphy on the skin of female models. One piece titled “Thousand Character Classic” displays a Chinese poem used as a primer for teaching Chinese characters from the sixth century-- The Tao Te Ching, which along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism, and strongly influenced other schools, such as Legalism, Confucianism, and Chinese Buddhism.
“The upcoming series is more about celebrating the beauty. As a feminist, I not only pay homage to the female form, but also convey the idea that the human body or even the human self are merely the carrier of the immortal culture and history. I use photography, watercolor, calligraphy and narrative in this series, and keep exploring the feminine subjectivity. There’s a famous Sino-Japanese movie called “The Pillow Book,” which also inspired me. In the movie, the main characters carry calligraphy in their bodies. It makes us all become a part of the culture.”
If you are in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check out Chloe’s work at the LA Art Show, gallery Steiner booth #826. You can visit her website to learn more: http://www.niliart.org/.
All photos courtesy of Ni Li