Calligraphic Interactionscape: Synergy between the Formal, Affective and Experiential Dimensions of Site-specific Calligraphy in Hong Kong

This research posits site-specific Chinese calligraphy in Hong Kong as a vibrant and determinant catalyst that can generate cultural, sensory and affective connections that enhance our experience and understanding of the city in terms of our relationship with environment and sense of place and community. Site-specific calligraphy often creates new concepts, ideas or viewing experience beyond the intrinsic, verbal meaning of Chinese characters through a thoughtful consideration of how a calligraphic work, its presentation and reception on a specific site can substantiate one another.

This research offers a new methodology for examining the interactions of the following factors: 1) the semantic meanings in calligraphic works; 2) the conditions of site specificity including factors of geographical location, topographical specificity, architectural setting, 3) site-specific calligraphy’s capability of generating and transmitting sensory and affective experiences in a manner that, upon perception, enhances our experience and perception of our relationship with environment; and 4) the synergistic effects of the factors above. This unprecedented methodology offers a more effective, multifaceted analysis and interpretation of calligraphy as a more encompassing form of site-specific art.

The research will start with the PI’s identification of more than 90 site-specific Chinese calligraphy in Hong Kong. Images and moving images of works of site-specific Chinese calligraphy will be collected and organized into a systematic digital archive. Based on the knowledge and inspirations from the digital archive, a new body of 10 creative works of site-specific Chinese calligraphy will be produced by the PI and other invited calligraphers and new media artists specializing in incorporation of calligraphic elements in new media artworks. The use of interactive computer graphics and other technologies
in new media art has the transcendent power of creating an immersive environment for the audience to interact with the artworks. In the final stage, a website will be created to house the digital archive of more than 100 images and moving images, disseminate new knowledge, and hold an online exhibition of the site-specific Chinese calligraphy of Hong Kong. A series of academic papers will be written for conference presentations, and a fully illustrated book manuscript will be written for publication. These scholarly and creative outputs will generate new interests among practitioners in the field and contribute to a deeper understanding of how calligraphy as traditional art and culture transforms as contemporary art in Hong Kong, China, fostering broader cultural and scholarly discourse within China studies.