Zhou Kaichang

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Zhou Kaichangmian's Personal Profile and Artistic Works
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Introduction to Painter Zhou Kaichangmian and Calligrapher Zhou Kaichangmian

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Zhou Kaichang

Personal Profile

Zhou Kaichang, courtesy name Hanhan, art name Resident of Baya Hall, Academician of the China Academy of Calligraphy and Painting, National First-Class Calligrapher and Painter, Vice President of the Guangxi Branch of the China Wumen Baya Calligraphy and Painting Institute, Council Member of the China Famous Person Calligraphy and Painting Art Center, Research Fellow appointed by the China International Calligraphy and Painting Art Research Association, Vice President of the China Dongyi Calligraphy and Painting Research Institute, Member of the Calligraphy and Painting Committee of Cangpin Art Network, and Signed Calligrapher and Painter; Disciple of renowned calligrapher and painter Wu Junbin, and second-generation disciple of Huang Zhou. Born in 1954 in Guilin, Guangxi, he is currently a member of the China Elderly Calligraphy and Painting Research Association, Council Member of the Guilin Elderly Calligraphy and Painting Research Association, Member of the Guangxi Calligraphers Association, Member of the China News and Publishing Calligraphers Association, Member of the Guilin Calligraphers Association, Member of the Guilin Staff Fine Arts Association, President of the Xing'an Calligraphy and Painting Art Research Institute, and Council Member of the Xing'an Calligraphers Association. He has a deep passion for calligraphy and painting and has long persisted in self-study. Since beginning his formal study of calligraphy in 1987, he has diligently copied ancient calligraphic models and extensively explored seal, clerical, regular, running, and cursive scripts. In recent years, he has also taken up painting under masters. He has achieved mastery in all script styles, attaining great proficiency in ink and brushwork, his technique rooted in the wisdom of ancient sages and the subtle artistry of painting—A Record of the Renowned Calligrapher and Painter Zhou Kaichang. Zhou Kaichang’s study of calligraphy and painting began with heartfelt devotion. Those who truly love art can enter its realm and become masters. Zhou devotes his entire being to the art of calligraphy and painting, absorbing its essence through meticulous copying of ancient steles and manuscripts, his brushwork effortlessly producing masterpieces. Calligraphy and painting share the same origin; having grasped the true essence of calligraphy, Zhou further enhances his painting skills through his calligraphic discipline, diligently studying the “Jieziyuan Painting Manual” and copying masterpieces with deep devotion. Combining innate talent with diligent practice, he has fully mastered both meticulous and expressive brushwork, achieving a profound artistic realm in ink and wash painting. He does not pursue narrow or deviant paths in his calligraphic cultivation, but instead follows the complete historical trajectory from its origins to maturity to acquire profound skill. To emulate the ancients, one must first understand them; thus, his calligraphy begins with an exploration of oracle bone and bronze inscriptions, internalizing the “engraved” texture of ancient scripts into his brushwork. When viewing Zhou Kaichang’s calligraphy, one observes strokes that are typically brisk, pure, and unadorned, exuding an ancient depth that reveals the historical weight of calligraphy’s origins. His brushwork is rooted in authenticity and clarity, balancing roundness and angularity to achieve beauty, with fluid lines as the ideal—clearly linked to his mastery of two forms of seal script. In today’s calligraphy world, few calligraphers dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to mastering seal script; without mastering seal script techniques, one cannot attain full fluency and will inevitably suffer from a fundamental deficiency in skill. His rigorous study of seal script ensures that his calligraphy is never disconnected from its roots. The lines in his calligraphy always carry the smoothness and resilience of Qin seal script, harmonizing strength and gentleness, with controlled strokes that flow and recede, forming rhythmic cadences. The result of his seal script resembles the resonant tones of an ancient guqin, possessing powerful artistic penetration. Clerical script, as a mature form of calligraphy, serves as a bridge between past and future—the foundation of the eight scripts. In his clerical script, Zhou emphasizes the essence of epigraphic studies, emulating the diverse and exquisite styles of over ten Han dynasty steles. Whether majestic, rugged, elegant, fluid, or resilient, each style achieves perfection, demonstrating tremendous skill. His brushwork derives its rhythm from the stone’s texture, and in turn, the brush’s rhythm restores the stone’s essence; his profound epigraphic mastery firmly establishes him as a master. Through his study of Han clerical script, he established a solid foundation and rich clerical rhythm as the core character of his calligraphy. This enabled him to rapidly advance in other script styles with half the effort and double the results. He has studied all four major regular script styles—Liu, Yan, Ouyang, and Zhao—with equal mastery, achieving significant accomplishments in each. His regular script is primarily grounded in Ouyang’s style, elegant, refined, and beautiful, possessing both bone and grace; such mastery cannot be achieved without a decade of dedicated practice. While studying Ouyang’s regular script, he carefully emulates Ouyang while transforming his style, reconstructing Ouyang’s brush techniques into a personalized form and rhythm, creating a distinct artistic signature. For example, he shapes the vertical strokes with a spearhead-like termination, employing an unusual yet exquisite brush technique—an unmistakable hallmark of “Zhou Kai-chang Regular Script.” His ability to respectfully follow tradition while innovating positions Zhou Kaichang as a leading master who carries calligraphy from its historical depths into the new era. In terms of regular script mastery, he stands shoulder to shoulder with contemporary master Tian Yunchang. One master transformed Ouyang’s style into “Tian Regular,” while the other transformed it into “Zhou Regular.” To achieve great mastery in calligraphy, one must also cultivate running and cursive scripts. Zhou’s running script follows the Wangs—Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi—meticulously studying the “Lanting Xu” and “Zhongqiu Tie,” fully embracing the free-spirited, lawless-yet-lawful essence of their calligraphy, resulting in running script that is ethereal and fluid, with superb brushwork and ink rhythm. His cursive script takes Zhang Xu as his master and Huaisu as his model, with strokes resembling flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, wild and unrestrained, perfectly expressing his inner spirit. His lines resemble spring snakes and summer worms, vivid and spirited; his calligraphy is truly emotional, achieving the status of a masterpiece. Zhou Kaichang’s talent as a painter stems directly from his achievements in calligraphy. He transfers the qi and rhythm of calligraphy into his painting, excelling in both meticulous and expressive brushwork. His subjects are broad and varied; he can transform any object into a beautiful composition. His expressive horses echo the spirit and vitality of Xu Beihong’s horse paintings. His ink-wash shrimps perfectly capture Qi Baishi’s mastery of achieving artistry between likeness and unlikeness. His flowers, birds, and animals are rendered with elegant colors, grounded in everyday life yet captivating the eye and stirring the heart. Beyond his extraordinary technique, his works radiate wisdom; his painting achievements are equally renowned. Mastery in all scripts, great achievement in ink and brushwork, technique rooted in the wisdom of ancient sages and the subtle artistry of painting. On the path of calligraphy and painting cultivation, Zhou Kaichang is both a guardian of traditional culture and an innovator forging a new school of art. His devotion and pursuit of calligraphy and painting have not only realized his artistic ideals but have also become a model admired by countless artists. Art Director, Huayi Shuyun Cultural Media, Renowned Calligraphy and Painting Critic Shi Feng, April 10, 2018.

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