Calligraphy and performing arts in contemporary China: forty years of artistic expressions in performance, music and dance

This thesis explores the relationship between Chinese calligraphy and performance arts in contemporary China. It is divided into five chapters. The “Introduction” (Chapter 1) provides an overview of the research topic, objectives, methodology, and chapter structure. “Chinese Calligraphy and Performance Art – Exploring Ink Actions” (Chapter 2) examines the works of contemporary Chinese calligraphers and performers who use innovative approaches to combine calligraphy with performance art. This chapter discusses how body movements and calligraphic tools, such as ink, create dynamic works that explore the connection between gesture and writing. “Chinese Calligraphy and Music – Sounds of Ink” (Chapter 3) focuses on calligraphers who draw inspiration from music, creating performances that blend sound and visual elements into dynamic calligraphic-musical experiences. This chapter also examines musicians and composers whose works are inspired by calligraphy. “Chinese Calligraphy and Contemporary Dance – Arts in Movement” (Chapter 4) looks at dancers and companies who incorporate calligraphy into contemporary ballets, creating a dialogue between written art and physical movement. Finally, the “Conclusions” (Chapter 5) presents the findings of data analysis from the “WRITE Digital Archive,” a web-based semantic archive that collects and preserves the selected artworks. The analysis identifies trends and connections between calligraphy and the performing arts. This thesis demonstrates how calligraphy influences performance art, music, and dance, and how these art forms, in turn, enhance the expression of calligraphy, fostering a dynamic interaction between them.