2018年：任由彬学习书法历程 Yim Yubin on Learning Chinese Calligraphy

2018南洋书法展以“迈向书法多元化”为主题，吸引了一些非华校背景的书法爱好者参展，令人鼓舞。

以下是一名韩国人分享她学习书法的历程：

Yim Yubin 任由彬

I am definitely non-Chinese educated, but I am not sure whether or not it applies to non-Chinese person, because I am a Korean.  By the way, I’d like to share my story with the participants in Nanyang Calligraphy Exhibition.

In Korea, before Korean letters were invented and spread out in 1446, all kinds of the text were written in Chinese, in spite of the fact that Korean language was spoken. There were lots of Korean calligraphers writing in Chinese throughout the Korean history. Prince Anpyeong (安平大君) Yi Yong (李瑢 1418-53) is my favourite Korean calligrapher.

I had been longing for learning Chinese calligraphy for quite a long time. I was always thinking that numbers of Chinese calligraphy especially amongst classical masterpieces are very beautiful as a form of arts.  Each piece shows the speed and rhythm by stroke and the beauty of line and composition. I am often touched by not only aesthetic appreciation of a visual viewpoint, but also by contents of poems although I am not good at comprehending Chinese letters.  I usually google the poems, then almost all I can find them with the translation in Korean.

When my son finished his A-level exams, I joined Nanyang Calligraphy Centre, which was about 2 and a half years ago. These days I am learning writing skills by copying classical masterpieces, which makes me enhancing ability of an eye for judging the good and the bad as well. It has not been a long time since I started to learn the calligraphy, but I feel like I have learnt a lot. I really appreciate the teacher. Sometimes I am lazy to practice, but whenever I see my classmates I am encouraged by their passions. I am also pleased by learning Chinese culture such as ‘Chun Lian’.

If I have to say the difficulties I have encountered in Singapore on learning Chinese calligraphy, it might be language barriers, as I cannot communicate in Chinese language. As all the related terms and theories are in Chinese, I am thinking I wish I would be able to understand Chinese language.

注：任由彬在2018年第22回世界书法文化艺术大展中荣获铜奖。
Note: Yim Yubin receives the Bronze award at The 22nd International Calligraphy Art and Culture Exhibition this year.