作為文化全球化產物與投射的中國當代藝術

Writing is a means of linguistic communication. Among the forms of script it assumes, Chinese characters, which are graphically iconic and not primarily a representation of phonetics, are a very special case. Despite being used in Chinese calligraphy for aesthetic reasons, they are at the same time not without semantic function. Considering this, Xu Bing’s (b. 1955) artworks constitute an unprecedented investigation of script, not necessarily connected to meaning and whose expression of artistic individuality can be questioned. In my article, I am going to focus on Xu Bing’s new employment of script in communication, while also attempting to refer it to the Chinese calligraphic tradition.