Behind the brush

Chinese calligraphy has always been an integral part of my life. As I reminisce about my childhood, I am filled with nostalgia. The lingering stains on my fingers. The smell of ink in the air. There is just something magical about calligraphy that transports me back in time, allowing me to reflect on my life’s journey. Just as calligraphy has evolved across the Chinese dynasties, I have also grown and learnt much from my twenty years of dedication to this craft.

Like any art, calligraphy is not acquired quickly. My master is a fourth-generation disciple of Shen Yinmo, a famous modern Chinese poet, scholar, calligrapher and educator. Under his tutelage, I have honed my skill with years of practice and dedication, forging my patience as I learn and appreciate the many diverse styles and intricacies afforded by each.

A brush with consciousness

My two decades of calligraphic practice have enlightened my aesthetic appreciation and nurtured my tolerant personality, making me better at identifying and caring for beauty. At the same time, calligraphy has refined my character. As I grow older and continue my meticulous practice, calligraphy guides me to a deeper peace.

As a mother of a four-year-old child, I have found that calligraphy provides a pathway towards building a strong parent-child relationship. From an early age, my son sat with me while I practiced. He now watches me with curiosity and engagement while quietly playing with his toys. Without words, I can demonstrate to him that calligraphy is not quick; that it takes a lifetime’s worth of practice and patience. With my encouragement, he has picked up the brush and we now share a common hobby.

A stroke of culture, a brush with heritage

Chinese Calligraphy is an artform that has survived the ages and been passed down through generations of artists. It is more than just a medium of writing and communication. It is a representation of a people – their culture, their art and their heritage. It carries with it the practices of those that have come before and reflects centuries of cultural evolution with multiple techniques and styles borne from the different eras.

By revitalising this tradition and promoting calligraphy to a world-wide audience, there is an opportunity to forge a greater understanding of Chinese culture, the rich diversity of the artform, and establish positive community ties across countries.

A subtle art of symbolic communication through thoughtful consumption

Our words are only as powerful as the actions behind them. An impersonal typeface cannot communicate depth of feeling as we express our best wishes, condolences or thanks to those we care about. The careful consideration and sincerity of a hand-calligraphed text reflects the honesty and intimacy of the message being conveyed.

Drawing attention to the beauty that I know as calligraphy I seamlessly integrate it into simple and sustainable everyday products. Each product and design have been carefully considered, not only for aesthetic beauty, but also for its symbolic significance.

By fusing this artform with the functional purpose of the goods on which they are written, I want to embed calligraphy as a part of our everyday life. Through these writings I seek to convey sincerity while encouraging thoughtful consumption.

Spreading the ink around

All of the products I am creating will feature calligraphy hand-written by myself. These scripts are then digitally transferred onto the products during the manufacturing process. However, the words I’ve written and chosen all deeply personal to me and the art itself has had a significant impact on my own life. In the same way ink spreads across a blank sheet of paper, I wish to spread the influence and knowledge of calligraphy into our society. My way of doing this is by imprinting calligraphy onto these products – to convey a personal touch upon each item prior to shipping to you. It is also my hope that you will gain as much utility and enjoyment from these pieces as I had during the course of making them.