When Chinese calligraphy meets western graffiti in Yunnan

 

Li Donghai, a 30-year-old college teacher living in Kunming, capital city of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, creates a form of stylish calligraphy which blends western graffiti art with Chinese calligraphy. 

 

 

Li Donghai is a slash man who has many titles: college teacher, emerging artist, singer, and Thangka painter.  In a recent exhibition showing Li’s calligraphy works, there are about 700 canvases displayed and each of them  has only one Chinese character. Looking carefully, viewers can find those characters unite the features of calligraphy and graffiti. Unlike usual calligraphy works, Donghai’s calligraphy emerges as phrases and sentences. The exhibition amazes viewers as if they walk into a crossword-puzzle world. 

 

 

 

Li Donghai once studied art in Italy. His eventful life makes him popular with younger aficionados in Kunming. Inspired by the art creation he observed in Italy, Li Donghai considers that he can create something which is beyond the borders of countries.