Never put down the pen
Mr. Lau’s hometown is Changhua County Shetou township, currently works at Chuxiang elementary school. When he was in primary school, his teacher gave him a brush, and assigned him to participate in a calligraphy competition, this discovered his interest in calligraphy, because of this affect, he never put down the pen.
Because there were a lot of homework in middle school, he could not have time to practice. Sometimes, he went to see the couplets on the pillar in the Matsu temple, gently touched and figured out how the calligraphy look? He never knew this little interest, will be a part of his life in the future.
Appreciate his teacher-Mr. Daiqin Cheng
Mr. Lau studied with Mr. Cheng in teacher college. Mr. Cheng is a master of ink painting, calligraphy and carving, he has received numerous awards such as first place in the National Art Exhibition, Mr. Lau admired the teacher’s knowledge, skills, and experiences. He often brings his work to Mr. Cheng, and received directions and references from him. He remembered when he studied with Mr. Cheng in fourth grade, the teacher treat all of the student like they were his brothers and sisters, and always encouraged them. Even now, he sometimes visit and share his feeling with the teacher. He believes Mr. Cheng is his teacher and also light up his life.
Practicing in the bathroom
Late at night, everyone had gone to sleep, he went to the bathroom to practice calligraphy with his senior, Mr. Liandong Zhuang. Every day, they work one and a half hours on a small table and under a hazy light, it was an unforgettable experience. Later, he got second place in the college group calligraphy art exhibition, and became more confident. Since then, he never wanted to put down the pen.
Delve into the master carving
After graduated from teacher college, he served in Taoyuan County. But he still studied with Mr. Yumin Jiang every Sunday in Taipei, and continued to study for another ten years. After that, he went to study for a Master degree at National Taiwan University of Arts, and specialized in the art of calligraphy and seal carving.
When learning calligraphy, although he never neglected any kind of fonts, but in fact, he preferred to perform seal script. And because his teacher studied carving in depth, it also inspired his interest in it. After a couple years of dedicated research, he won the award of seal carving in the National qingxi seal carving competition .
Lau said: seal carving requires a deep foundation, not only to pay attention on the strokes and knifes, it also needs a layout for coordination of the whole picture. Carving uses a knife, calligraphy uses a brush, they show distinct artistic expression. Lau is proficient in calligraphy, but is better at making all kinds of seals. And so during his leisure time, if he is not writing calligraphy, he is carving seals. “There is no way for them to complement each other, unless you have a good handwriting and a good seal." he laughed.
Connecting community and calligraphy art
Mr. Lau taught at Chuxiang elementary school in Nantou Township, which is a small settlement with famous tea. After school, he went to the Lugu Community College calligraphy class, he said, "That was a very happy teaching and learning experience," Look at these honest people, with their slightly brown skin, and wrinkled hands writing seriously, then waiting for the teacher’s comments, in addition to inspire Mr. Lau to work hard.it also affected him a lot.
When he was teaching, he also learned from these villagers the local tea-culture. They combined calligraphy with their tea by printing their calligraphy on the boxes of tea, which not only inherits the beauty of calligraphy culture, but increased marketing of this special Lugu tea, and express the culture of this village.
A thousand moons on a thousand rivers
The teacher really likes the saying from “A Thousand Moons on a Thousand Rivers”, it means: there are river and water, there is water so there is the moon , the world includes everything. The moon can also be used to describe the Buddha ancestors, as long as we follow the rule, and keep a joyful heart, there would be no darkness. Therefore, in an opportunity, he wrote the couplet "A thousand moons and a thousand rivers, Ten thousand miles without clouds and ten thousand miles sky”. He believe we should cherish everything in the world, so he had the opportunity to meet the people and students at Lugu, and he thanks Buddha’s kindness blessing, then he can become a master of calligraphy, and understand the value of fate. He hanged this couplet in his living room, it has a variety of fonts and feelings. So far, the couplet is full of his appreciation and satisfaction.
The fate of entering the club
His reason for joining Nine Eccentrics of Huangxi is the recommendation of his senior, Mr. Jiahua Lau, Mr. Lau also invited him to study with Mr. Jiang together. The community hosted book fairs and exhibitions regularly, to improve themselves though observing each other’s strength, and also hope to raise the level of the community culture.
Aside from hosting exhibitions, the club also created some art activities at Yuanlin High School, Shetou Junior High School and the community cultural center etc. and had some charity event .
Edutainment
In the current education environment, regarding the issues of promoting calligraphy at elementary schools, he totally agree. However, he believes that the lack of calligraphy teachers and classes would be two problems. After the students grow to third grade, their small muscles can be controlled and are stable, that is the best time to learn. But learning Chinese characters should be practicing with copybooks, because it’s difficult to use a different kind of pens, so the beginners are easily frustrated, keeping patience and perseverance will be the third challenge.
The Analects of Confucius noted that, in order not to deplete the spirit of art, we should maintain a caring heart and not break the rules of morality. For him, calligraphy and seal carving provide platforms for artistic expressions, and opportunities for self-expertise. He hopes he can carry forward the traditional arts, but also create a modern style of calligraphy. Art and creativity are forms of spiritual release, and a simpler and better way to pursuit life.
Mr. Lau’s hometown is Changhua County Shetou township, currently works at Chuxiang elementary school. When he was in primary school, his teacher gave him a brush, and assigned him to participate in a calligraphy competition, this discovered his interest in calligraphy, because of this affect, he never put down the pen.
Because there were a lot of homework in middle school, he could not have time to practice. Sometimes, he went to see the couplets on the pillar in the Matsu temple, gently touched and figured out how the calligraphy look? He never knew this little interest, will be a part of his life in the future.
Appreciate his teacher-Mr. Daiqin Cheng
Mr. Lau studied with Mr. Cheng in teacher college. Mr. Cheng is a master of ink painting, calligraphy and carving, he has received numerous awards such as first place in the National Art Exhibition, Mr. Lau admired the teacher’s knowledge, skills, and experiences. He often brings his work to Mr. Cheng, and received directions and references from him. He remembered when he studied with Mr. Cheng in fourth grade, the teacher treat all of the student like they were his brothers and sisters, and always encouraged them. Even now, he sometimes visit and share his feeling with the teacher. He believes Mr. Cheng is his teacher and also light up his life.
Practicing in the bathroom
Late at night, everyone had gone to sleep, he went to the bathroom to practice calligraphy with his senior, Mr. Liandong Zhuang. Every day, they work one and a half hours on a small table and under a hazy light, it was an unforgettable experience. Later, he got second place in the college group calligraphy art exhibition, and became more confident. Since then, he never wanted to put down the pen.
Delve into the master carving
After graduated from teacher college, he served in Taoyuan County. But he still studied with Mr. Yumin Jiang every Sunday in Taipei, and continued to study for another ten years. After that, he went to study for a Master degree at National Taiwan University of Arts, and specialized in the art of calligraphy and seal carving.
When learning calligraphy, although he never neglected any kind of fonts, but in fact, he preferred to perform seal script. And because his teacher studied carving in depth, it also inspired his interest in it. After a couple years of dedicated research, he won the award of seal carving in the National qingxi seal carving competition .
Lau said: seal carving requires a deep foundation, not only to pay attention on the strokes and knifes, it also needs a layout for coordination of the whole picture. Carving uses a knife, calligraphy uses a brush, they show distinct artistic expression. Lau is proficient in calligraphy, but is better at making all kinds of seals. And so during his leisure time, if he is not writing calligraphy, he is carving seals. “There is no way for them to complement each other, unless you have a good handwriting and a good seal." he laughed.
Connecting community and calligraphy art
Mr. Lau taught at Chuxiang elementary school in Nantou Township, which is a small settlement with famous tea. After school, he went to the Lugu Community College calligraphy class, he said, "That was a very happy teaching and learning experience," Look at these honest people, with their slightly brown skin, and wrinkled hands writing seriously, then waiting for the teacher’s comments, in addition to inspire Mr. Lau to work hard.it also affected him a lot.
When he was teaching, he also learned from these villagers the local tea-culture. They combined calligraphy with their tea by printing their calligraphy on the boxes of tea, which not only inherits the beauty of calligraphy culture, but increased marketing of this special Lugu tea, and express the culture of this village.
A thousand moons on a thousand rivers
The teacher really likes the saying from “A Thousand Moons on a Thousand Rivers”, it means: there are river and water, there is water so there is the moon , the world includes everything. The moon can also be used to describe the Buddha ancestors, as long as we follow the rule, and keep a joyful heart, there would be no darkness. Therefore, in an opportunity, he wrote the couplet "A thousand moons and a thousand rivers, Ten thousand miles without clouds and ten thousand miles sky”. He believe we should cherish everything in the world, so he had the opportunity to meet the people and students at Lugu, and he thanks Buddha’s kindness blessing, then he can become a master of calligraphy, and understand the value of fate. He hanged this couplet in his living room, it has a variety of fonts and feelings. So far, the couplet is full of his appreciation and satisfaction.
The fate of entering the club
His reason for joining Nine Eccentrics of Huangxi is the recommendation of his senior, Mr. Jiahua Lau, Mr. Lau also invited him to study with Mr. Jiang together. The community hosted book fairs and exhibitions regularly, to improve themselves though observing each other’s strength, and also hope to raise the level of the community culture.
Aside from hosting exhibitions, the club also created some art activities at Yuanlin High School, Shetou Junior High School and the community cultural center etc. and had some charity event .
Edutainment
In the current education environment, regarding the issues of promoting calligraphy at elementary schools, he totally agree. However, he believes that the lack of calligraphy teachers and classes would be two problems. After the students grow to third grade, their small muscles can be controlled and are stable, that is the best time to learn. But learning Chinese characters should be practicing with copybooks, because it’s difficult to use a different kind of pens, so the beginners are easily frustrated, keeping patience and perseverance will be the third challenge.
The Analects of Confucius noted that, in order not to deplete the spirit of art, we should maintain a caring heart and not break the rules of morality. For him, calligraphy and seal carving provide platforms for artistic expressions, and opportunities for self-expertise. He hopes he can carry forward the traditional arts, but also create a modern style of calligraphy. Art and creativity are forms of spiritual release, and a simpler and better way to pursuit life.