Su Shishu: Master Calligrapher’s Exhibition Highlights

Su Shishu: Master Calligrapher’s Exhibition Highlights

Su Shishu is one of the most influential figures in contemporary Chinese calligraphy, having served as president of the China Calligraphers Association and director of the Cultural Relics Press. This article highlights his works and career, drawn from the group exhibition “Mountains and Rivers in Elegant Rhyme: New Spirit of the Times,” organized by members of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History.

A Lifelong Devotee of Brush and Seal

Born in 1949 to a Manchu family in Beijing, Su Shishu developed a passion for calligraphy and seal carving in childhood and studied under the seal master Liu Boqin. His career spans publishing, art administration, and education: he became president of the China Calligraphers Association and of the Cultural Relics Press, and he is now honorary president of the association and a member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History. He also serves as honorary professor at the Calligraphy Research Institute of Tsinghua University’s Academy of Arts and Design.

Throughout his life Su has stayed close to the craft: he learned from the legendary calligrapher Qi Gong (1912–2005) and the connoisseur Xu Bangda (1911–2012), exchanged views with Japanese stele-rubbing specialists, and discussed ink-making with the master ink artisan Feng Liangcai. In June 2018 he taught calligraphy to students at a Hong Kong primary school and presented the school with his inscription “Pearl of the Orient.”

Highlights from the Exhibition

Four works from the exhibition show the range of Su’s brushwork:

• A 2016 six-character couplet on paper, set to lines from Mao Zedong’s poetry — “The land is so beautiful; the scenery here is uniquely fine” — composed with a reverent postscript and stamped with multiple seals, including the studio seal “Tianchi Su Family.”
• “Qinyuanchun: In Praise of Chinese Calligraphy” (2020), a ci poem that traces the art’s history from oracle-bone script and bronze inscriptions through clerical, running, and the regular script of the Tang dynasty, ending with a call to carry the national heritage forward.
• “Huanxisha” (2017), a lyric written on the occasion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, recording the nation’s hopes for a prosperous future.
• A 2018 four-character couplet, “Orioles sing and swallows dance; tigers leap and dragons soar,” a classic New Year greeting in bold running script.

Each work is accompanied by the artist’s signature and seals in red and white — the traditional way to authenticate and complete a calligraphy piece.

Why Su Shishu Matters

As a former leader of China’s calligraphy establishment, Su Shishu represents the continuity between classical training and public life. His works combine literary learning, historical awareness, and a craftsman’s discipline, making them sought after by collectors of contemporary calligraphy.

If you are considering a commissioned calligraphy work, Badou Art’s specialists are happy to guide you in choosing an artist, format, and inscription that fit your purpose.

Source: https://www.cntizi.com/7732.html