Chinese calligraphy contest awards 35 expatriate winners

Thirty-five expats received prizes on Sept 2 in Futian district in Guangdong, at the first Chinese calligraphy competition organized for local expats.

The submission period lasted over two months.

The Oriental Cup Chinese Calligraphy Contest for the International Community of Guangdong collected 200 works made by 170 contestants from 23 countries by its July deadline, according to the organizers.

Judges from Shenzhen Calligraphy Association ultimately decided to give the highest score to a South Korean contestant, Chang Mi-yong, for her handwriting display of writing famed Chinese poet Du Fu's (712-770) poem To Mr. Hua.

They said it paid tribute to a beautiful musical composition.

Chang's work displayed a comprehensive layout and a clear and neat writing style, while her writing reveals the seriousness of practicing Yan Zhenqing's (709-784) style of calligraphy, the judging panel said.

Chang, who has lived in China for several years, said she was very fond of Chinese calligraphy. "Every Wednesday I invite friends to practice calligraphy at my house," she said. Her two daughters also competed in the contest.

Alan Hernandez from Mexico and Enkhsaikhan Munkhtuul from Mongolia won second prizes.

"I first learned Chinese calligraphy by imitating the writing on outdoor advertisements. The more I learn and practice, the better my skills become. Every day, when I get off work, I practice calligraphy for at least one hour," said Hernandez, whose prize-winning work was a sentence from a poem by Su Shi (1037-1101).

Another 10 people from eight countries won third prizes and the rest were given excellence awards.

The competition was co-organized by Futian district's information office, Shenzhen Oriental Art Gallery, China (Shenzhen) International Personnel Training Center, Shenzhen Evening News and Shenzhen Calligraphy Association.

It was financed by special funds for promoting culture and sports development in Futian district.

The organizers said they will continue to hold the competition to encourage foreign friends to learn more about Chinese culture and Chinese calligraphy.

Shenzhen Daily provided the story.

(HK Edition 10/20/2017 page23)