Calligraphy in China is known as shūfǎ (書法/书法), literally meaning the way/law of writing. In Japan it is understood as shodō (書道) or the way/principle of writing, and in Korean it is seoye (서예; 書藝) meaning skill/criterion of writing. Chinese calligraphy focuses not only on methods of writing but also on cultivating one's character and thought as a pursuit of the literati. There are some general standardizations of the various styles of calligraphy in this tradition, therefore, in modern calligraphy, artists have sought to challenge the rules that have subsisted for over thousands of years to create diversified new styles. Dr. Ren will be discussing his thesis, which explores the comparative movement of modern art of calligraphy as it crossed borders from China to Japan using the examples of artistic works by Wang Dongling, 王冬龄 (b. 1945) and Yuichi Inoue (1916-1985).

Dr. Tianjin Ren ( 任天進) is a multi-tasking scholar. He holds a PhD in Management from Grenoble Ecole de Management in Grenoble, France, and works as a business entrepreneur in the field of technology. He is also an avid collector with a wide collection of both Chinese and Western paintings and sculptures, including Impressionism paintings. He is currently a PhD candidate and a researcher at the Modern Calligraphy Research Center at the China Academy of Art and is a member of the Lanting Calligraphy Commune. Dr. Ren is also a practicing artist who is preparing for his forthcoming sculpture solo exhibition in Shanghai and Hangzhou.