Sunday, 3 March 2013

書法


書法




中國書法是華人生活,歷史和文化藝術的結晶。在那乾濕濃淡的筆觸裡,寫盡了千古的血涙,忍辱,淒戚和艱辛;其間也不乏豪邁灑脫的風情;飛舞的翰墨在點畫間道出了智人的教喻,前人的戰蹟和生活的苦樂。沒有這些煎熬和磨練,那來這些令人振撼心腑的風神,使人在字裡行間的轉折,輕重和提頓中帶出共鳴。這一切,都是華人獨有的文化。它能被世人所推崇,不是沒有它的理由的。

可是書法卻不是那麼隨手就能撿來的玩意兒;除了在技巧上的要求極高外,字的形態和意境也要能揮灑自如。可幸的是這些都是可以學出來的。

當你決定提起毛筆時,必要堅持下去,每天練上一小時,以中鋒下筆,提肘懸腕,以古人書帖為佐,虛懷勤習,書法便會成為你生活的一部份。經過一段時間,習書的修養和自學持續的精神,不難表現在你的筆觸下。

幸好書法仍是華人獨有的文藝,是我們的瑰寶;然而,倘若我們不再珍惜這份至尊的文化,不去承傳下去,終有一日,書法將被他人所專,遠離我們而去。



Chinese Calligraphy


Exhibition at the Walner Gallery in Nottingham University, UK

Chinese calligraphy has been entwined with our lives for a long time. It embodies every part of our history and culture. The tone of its strokes and its dry as well as its drenched touches, not only express the tears, humiliations, hardship and sorrows of China’s bygone days, it also expresses the happy and carefree moments. The dancing strokes weave out the stories of our forefathers’ wisdoms, the past great wars, and the hunger and struggle of people’s sufferings. Without the movements and its substance, it will not touch our hearts and soul, and will certainly gain hardly any resonance from the readers. Chinese calligraphy is revered around the world, simply because it is unique.

However, Chinese calligraphy is not something that you can easily acquire. The technique is demanding, so are its shapes and elegant style. Fortunately, these can be achieved by studying hard.

Once you start to use a brush, you must determine to carry on learning without fail. You must try to practise at least an hour a day at the beginning. Learn to use the point of the brush to write and lift your elbow and wrist above table. Learn only from the great masters from the dynasties before Sung. After years of practice, calligraphy will become part of your life. Your maturity, culture and your knowledge will be expressed through the tip of your brush.

Chinese calligraphy is the most fundamental and unique piece of art in China. We should treasure and preserve it to its highest standard. 

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

太極意念書法展

太極意念書法展

二零一三年二月一日至廿八日
加華藝廊
香港上環四方街廿三號地下(文武廟側街)
每日下午一時半至六時



"The Chinese Calligraphy Bible" by Cathy Ho
很感謝香港上環四方街的加華藝廊李先生提供我差不多整個藝廊的場地,來展出書法作品。至於癸酉時寫的「下筆如有神」仍佔一個不輕的地位,被選登載於「易拉架」上。

說起來也算是一段機緣的巧合吧,兩月前路過四方街加華藝廊,停步到內觀賞香港昔日舊照展覽。在與老板李先生的閑談中扯上了書法的話題;當時我急於上課,沒多說便上路了。

在課還未完成,李老板來電囑我課後到店一聚。原來李老板巳胸有成竹地表示有意為我安排展覽,展期將在二月。在這數小時間,「太極意念書法展」就這樣地決定起來。

我駭然想起時間實在趕逼,便密鑼緊鼓地在這短短的一段時間裡,把自己關起來做好要做的事。

自07年出版了以英文寫的 ‘The Chinese Calligraphy Bible' 後,我的書法展也繼而頻密起來,除了在英國境內展覽外,還到溫哥華和師友為紀念林千石老師而籌劃展覽。在英方面,參加了利物浦雙年展期間和當地藝術家的六房藝展,當地劇院中國藝展,曼徹斯特的華人藝術中心的二人展,和諾定咸大學湖畔畫廊的個展。此外,也被邀到畫廊,博物館,文化中心,華人藝術中心,學校,孔子學院等地舉辦書畫的工作坊。這次能在香港展出書法,是一個難得的機會。雖然在我離港前也曾有數的展覽,然能回到中國人的地方展出,一直是我的期望。

說起來自我十四月前回港後,這是繼真光中學後的第二次個展,我是很幸運地得到各方的幫忙,謝謝!





Tai Chi Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition

1 - 28 February 2013@1pm - 6pm, 
Cawah Arts Gallery
32 Square Street, Sheung Wan, HK


It was a pure coincident on what was going to happen when I walked up Square Street on one December afternoon on my way to give calligraphy lesson.  I stopped by Cawah Gallery to view a photography exhibition of Hong Kong in the 50's. Mr Li, the gallery proprietor was there and we got talking about Chinese calligraphy and arranged to show him my artwork in a later date. I didn't expect much and was surprised to receive a call for a meeting after my lesson. And there and then, an exhibition of my calligraphy was arranged in the month of February, the Chinese New Year.

Since the publication of "the Chinese Calligraphy Bible" in 1997, I have had a series of exhibitions in the UK cities and Vancouver. Besides that, I also gave Chinese Calligraphy and Tai Chi workshops in the North West and the midlands of England, including Liverpool University, Nottingham University, Confucius Institute, the Chinese Arts Centre, Radio Merseyside and schools.

Though my stay in Hong Kong has been just fourteen months, this is my second solo exhibition in Hong Kong since the True Light Middle School exhibition last year. I am grateful for the help I have got and looking forward to this New Year exhibition!




Friday, 28 December 2012

我的太極

我的太極﹣就是氣功


這半年來由於天氣涼快,我到外打太極的時間也多了。這每天個多小時的獨自鑽研,所得良多。我一直強調太極就是氣功的論調;在過去二十多年當中教導太極時,不斷地督促學生們把太極做得要柔要慢,務求達到用意不用力的先要條件。因此在這一段獨自練拳的時光裡,我能作再深一層的推進,追求太極就是氣功的體會。

一套楊家傳統八十五式一般需時二十至廿五分鐘;在我試驗時間中,盡量把整個身體達到連綿,靜,柔及沉的境界。以腰帶動全身而作不動聲色的轉移,我曾對學生談到太極的招式猶如一棵大樹,要穩,要柔,要健,還要看似動,卻又未動的感覺;這就是我要求的一個重要的目標。幸好我練拳的地方隱蔽,前有一牆阻擋外人騷擾,因此我便能如願的尋求答案。

Blackie Community Gallery in Liverpool
第一次的試證,全套八十五式是四十分鐘,比前是多出了二十分鐘。第二天練出了四十五分鐘,較前多了二十五分鐘。練完後,那感覺是無可言喻的完整,通透,穩沉,鬆柔,還有極端的快樂。太極十要最後一要,也是最難做到的一環,便是「動中求靜」。意思是指雖在轉動中卻又保留靜之意。能把太極拳鍛練到最慢,有如氣功的靜止,便能做到「若動若不動,看似不動卻又動」的境界。

這種發見當是個別的感受,然而,我不會再作他想,太極就是氣功,是我肯定的事實。太極是中國的精粹,是文化的結晶,更是養生之道。能把太極拳做到慢,沉,鬆,柔,穩,並符合太極十要的要求,那就有助健身健心健腦,更能體會生活的樂趣,從小事中尋求快樂的真源。

My Tai Chi

23 December 2012

The weather is just superb for practising Tai Chi outdoor. After my teaching Tai Chi in the UK for the past twenty years, I treasure the opportunity to work on Tai Chi by myself without any disturbances. 


I always maintain that Tai Chi is Qigong. I kept on urging my class to pursue the ultimate goals of loosening the body, sinking but with flexibility, balancing in all movements and slowing down to get to the Qigong state of mind. 

The normal duration of the Yang Traditional 85 movements is 20 - 25 minutes. During this experiment, I deliberately slowed down, moved with the waist to sink, relaxed, meditate to bring out the gentle, elegant and delicate movements. I wanted to achieve 'meditation within movements' as if I was at a still position but in fact, I was moving. At the end, I have completed the 85 movements in 45 minutes which is almost double of its usual required time. I felt complete and elated. It is indescribable. I was in a state of bliss. 

I am in no doubt that Tai Chi is Qigong and should be practised this way. Tai Chi is the essence of Chinese culture and is the route for nurturing our Qi. It also keeps our body and mind healthy. If one aims to practise Tai Chi with the ten rules in mind, do it as if you are practising Qigong, one will experience the ultimate happiness that Tai Chi brings.