Shanghai-style calligraphy
Shenzhen Commercial Daily, May 22, 2007
The "Shanghai-style calligraphy Jinjing Exhibition" was exhibited at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing not long ago. It caused a stir. It is said that this is the first time that the splendor of Shanghai-style calligraphy has been displayed on such a large scale.
Since the end of the 19th century, Shanghai has become an important center for Chinese calligraphy and painting. Some people say that talents and prostitutes rush to places with money. Yangzhou in the Qing Dynasty was a gathering place for salt merchants and a large number of literati, calligraphers and painters. It was also a place where prostitutes gathered. "Yangzhou Painted Boat Record" records the prosperity of Yangzhou at that time. More than a hundred years ago, Shanghai became the center of China's economy. In the history of modern calligraphy and painting, there were many famous and leading figures, such as Zhao Zhiqian, Wu Changshuo, Kang Youwei, Shen Zengzhi, Zeng Xi, Zheng Xiaoxu, Li Shutong, Wu Hufan, Huang Binhong, Shen Yinmo, Yu Youren, Ma Gongyu, Zhang Daqian, Wang Ge, Wang Quchang, Lai Chusheng, Pan Boying, Bai Jiao, Xie Zhiliu, Lu Yanshao, etc., almost all have lived, worked and created in Shanghai. Many activities of Chinese calligraphy, such as association, exhibition, publishing, market development, etc., all took the lead in Shanghai, leading the fashion and influencing the whole country. Whether they are veterans of the Qing Dynasty, veterans of the Republic of China, or "junior boys" who are just starting out in the art world, they all put up orders to sell calligraphy in Shanghai. The reason is that there was demand and market in Shanghai at that time. When it comes to the characteristics of "Shanghai-style calligraphy", as Zhou Hui, the current chairman of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association, said, "It is difficult to say which specific calligraphy style represented the Shanghai-style calligraphy at that time. Maybe there is no specific calligraphy style, and everyone leads the way." Characteristics of Shanghai-style calligraphy."
In order to cooperate with this "Jinjing Exhibition", the Shanghai Calligraphy Association also compiled and published the "Series Collection of Representative Calligraphers of the Shanghai-style", selecting from the star-studded Shanghai-style calligraphers. The ten most representative ones are Wu Changshuo, Shen Zengzhi, Li Shutong, Shen Yinmo, Wang Zangchang, Lai Chusheng, Pan Boying, Bai Jiao, Xie Zhiliu, and Lu Yanshao. The time span is from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, with one episode per person. These ten calligraphers can also be said to represent the highest achievements of Chinese calligraphy of that era. Of course, strictly speaking, the main activity center of Li Shutong (Master Hongyi) among the ten was not in Shanghai. The main achievements of Lai Chusheng, Xie Zhiliu, and Lu Yanshao were in painting rather than calligraphy, but they were the most famous in the early 20th century. Zheng Xiaoxu, a famous calligrapher, mainly writes calligraphy in Shanghai. It seems a bit unreasonable not to accept Zheng Xiaoxu. Maybe it is because he has no use of calligraphy.