Victor Li - Calligraphies

Calligraphies: Xinjiang, 2020

Generative pattern, found paper and textiles

What may at first appear to resemble Arabic calligraphy is not what it seems; the Uyghur word for the Chinese province of Xinjiang is unusually written out in a calligraphic style despite not being a religious saying, next to the same word written in Chinese calligraphy. Both pieces of calligraphy were created by the artist. In these posters, playing with the idea of calligraphy as a mode of communication is combined with China’s longstanding tradition of using lengthy, landscape style scrolls of silk for art and calligraphy. The imposition of Xinjiang on top of one of the most celebrated forms of Chinese art is inherently contradictory, even more so considering the ethnic cleansing currently being perpetrated against Uyghurs by the Chinese government.

Calligraphies: Xinjiang ultimately attempts to challenge the viewer’s expectations of what typically constitutes traditional Chinese art, and come to terms with uncomfortable aspects of modern China.

The text in white reads:

Guidance (excerpt)

Abdurehim Ötkür

Along life’s road I have always sought truth,
In the search for verity, thought was always my guide.
My heart yearned without end for a chance of expression,
And longed to find words of meaning and grace.
Come, my friends, let our dialogue joyfully begin.

ھىدايەتنامە

ئابدۇرېھىم تىلەشۈپ ئۆتكۈر
ئۆمۈر مەنزىلىدىن تىنماي ئىزلىدىم مەن ھەقىقەتنى
تەپەككۇر بولدى بىر ھادى تېپىشتا چىن ھىدايەتنى
تىلەپ ھەر سۆزگە باي مەنا يەنە جانلىق پاساھەتنى
دىلىم ئىستەيتى ئىزھارغا ھەمىشە مەقبۇل پۇرسەتنى
كېلىڭ ئەي دوستلىرىم ئەمدى

خوشال باشلايلى سۆھبەتنى