How to understand the decorative features in the appreciation of calligraphy art

Traditional calligraphy emphasizes implication and the words are not too ostentatious. This has a lot to do with the traditional thought of self-cultivation, gentleness and peace advocated by Confucianism. Modern people's social activities are intensified and their personality tends to be extroverted, so the aesthetic requirements for calligraphy are naturally different from those in ancient times. Nowadays, young people prefer exaggerated images, emphasize eyeball effect, require strong contrast of lines, and regard sensory stimulation as a kind of enjoyment. From this point of view, it is an inevitable trend, an objective social demand and a rational result to add decorative beauty to calligraphy.

Zheng Banqiao's calligraphy should be the first calligrapher with comprehensive decorative beauty. Zheng Banqiao's calligraphy is called "Banqiao Style", and Banqiao calls itself "six and a half books". Zheng used official script to enter the book, and often one or two strokes in each word were particularly prominent, with uneven ink, different font sizes and crooked layout, which was described as "paving the way with stones". But looking at the whole article, I feel integrated and unique, giving people beautiful enjoyment. According to legend, there is another interesting thing about Zheng Banqiao's calligraphy practice. Zheng Bian studied various styles of calligraphy and practiced it very diligently. At night, he kept gesticulating on the quilt with his fingers. Once, I actually drew a hand on my wife, and the lady scolded, "People are one, so write it back." Zheng Banqiao suddenly realized that he had left other people's calligraphy and created his own. The calligraphy style of Shu Tong, a master of modern calligraphy, is also very decorative, as well as the calligraphy of Lai Shaoqi, Han Meilin and others. Looking at their calligraphy, I have a sense of shock.

At present, there is a debate about tradition and innovation in the book circle. Some people don't like grotesque calligraphy works, and strongly advocate that calligraphy should be kept traditional; On the other hand, some young people are keen on deviant ways and looking for breakthroughs. The author believes that adding decorative beauty to calligraphy is the general trend and should be followed. However, innovation should not deviate from this demand, but should be consciously innovative, rather than blindly pursuing novelty. Some calligraphy works are so bizarre that the viewer can't guess what words he wrote, and it's hard to say it's calligraphy. Messy lines can only form patterns, and word patterns on stones can only be said to be fun, not calligraphy.

In recent years, "calligraphers" have sprung up in the world, advocating "separation from all words". They believe that "the content of calligraphy itself is incompatible with the content of words and symbols", and the calligraphy in their minds should be bold and unrestrained lines. "Calligraphers" draw some lines at will when creating. Stick a piece of paper on a woman, and then let her twist and change her posture. The writer will also change his posture and leave some lines on the paper with a pen, so that a calligraphy work is completed. This work is also a trace record of the interaction between men and women. Wow! China's calligraphy is extensive and profound, and it is really an open system with such tolerance. I remember that some people in the west have done similar experiments, and let gorillas paint on canvas casually, and the color effect is not worse than that of people. Some weirdness in the development of calligraphy art will not affect its correct and healthy development. Evolution theory shows that biological variation, heredity and natural selection will lead to changes in biological adaptability. Those individuals with favorable variation that can adapt to the environment will survive and multiply, while those individuals without favorable variation will be eliminated. Science and art are the same.