Calligraphy can convey feelings which are hard to put in words, says artist

Full of inspiration: Ong posing with one his favourite pieces after the opening of the art exhibition at Yi Circle Cafe in Lebuh Bishop, Penang.

CHINESE-INSPIRED yet universal in meaning is the common essence captured in the artworks displayed at the Solo 3.0 Calligraphy and Ink Painting Exhibition at Yi Circle in Bishop Street, George Town.

The collection by local artist Ong Chia Koon, 43, was on exhi-bition in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca before making it to Pe-nang where it will remain until this Sunday.

The Malacca-born artist said the exhibition, which was four years in the making, was an expression of emotion rather than technical skills as seen in most traditional Chinese art.

“My calligraphy is not readable, as to understand it you need to feel the strokes which give it an abstract effect.

“Calligraphy to me can express ideas and feelings which are hard to describe in words.

“I allow the brush to flick naturally,” he said after the launch of the exhibition by retired politician and calligraphy enthusiast Datuk Dr Kang Chin Seng.

Ong said there was so much beauty in calligraphy that one need not understand Chinese to enjoy it.

Most of his calligraphy art is based on poems and lyrics of songs that inspired him through the years.

“There is this song by a Taiwanese artiste about being homeless in this world as everything is temporary.

“Its lyrics describe how you shouldn’t think about things that are beyond your control,” he said when explaining the inspiration behind one of his pieces.

Visitors can also enjoy the second part of his collection that showcases nature-inspired themes such as bamboos and flowers.

“I receive a lot of feedback from people to draw more things such as birds or extra elements in the pieces but for me that is redundant,” commented Ong.

He said the simplicity of his art was to pay tribute to the object in focus, and extra elements such as ‘another bird’ or ‘blue skies’ would make it confusing.

Ong is this month’s artist whose works were chosen to be on display at the Yi Circle Cafe.

Cafe founder Chang Kim Hua said that he wanted to create a platform for artists to showcase their art in a relaxed atmosphere.

“Every month we will organise an art exhibition with a different theme on the second floor of this cafe, which is open to public,” he said.

Chang hoped that both tourists and locals alike would grab the chance to enjoy and purchase the exhibits.