A born artist, Tu Xiangdong presents the beauty of Chinese culture through calligraphy using his skilled techniques and aesthetic sense.

Since childhood, Tu has had a strong interest in the art of handwriting, and the solid foundation in regular characters has given him a refined and unsophisticated style in calligraphy.

"With a calm and elegant feeling, Tu's calligraphy brings art into life by showing the movements in tranquility, especially in his running script and cursive characters," said Liu Yi, an advisor to the China Calligraphers Association.

From the beauty of strokes to the structure of characters and the spirit of brushwork, Tu's handwriting is deeply rooted in the ancient calligraphy that changed its chirography - the penmanship - throughout time, Liu said.

He noted that Tu not only practices regular script or clerical characters, but also employs running script and grass writing that have more flexible styles.

"He is a master in handling his brush. He has good planning in writing that varies by different content - for example, which strokes need to be close to each other and in which have to be more apart, " Liu said.

Tu has been working hard at calligraphy for more than 30 years.

He is an active member in activities hosted by the China Calligraphers Association and its Shanxi operations.

In addition to calligraphy, Tu is also interested in poetry and photography, true reflections of his moral integrity and life experience, Liu added. He also works as vice-president of the Shanxi Entrepreneur Photographer Association.

Quan Xijun, another advisor to the association, said that despite fame and honor, Tu remains diligent in practicing and sharpening his skills in calligraphy.

He said that Tu constantly copies the handwriting of prestigious calligraphers from ancient times including Wang Xizhi - the master of grass writing in the eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420) - and Yan Zhenqing, the father of regular script who flourished during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

By finding nourishment in those masterpieces, Tu creatively applies the essence of ancient calligraphy into his own brushwork as well as his drawing of lines and structure.

Later, he developed a natural and vibrant style in handwriting. "His running script is unrestrained and rigorous, so there is a mix of gentleness and toughness," Quan said.

"Calligraphy is more a free way to express emotions than just showcasing brushing and structure," said Quan, noting that innovation is the key to the evolution and the prosperity of Chinese calligraphy in modern society.

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(China Daily 04/24/2013 page22)