OU Da Wei 區大爲
ARTWORKS | NEWS
Mr Ou Da Wei is a traditional Chinese artist. This is not a euphemistic label for traditionalists. Rather, it is an acknowledgement of his complete mastery of the ancient Chinese arts. Ou began his studies in calligraphy with the distinguished artist Wu Zi Fu at the tender age of fourteen. He has honed his art for almost half a century since then. Many Chinese artists today are skilled in at least one of the four traditional genres of poetry, calligraphy, seal engraving, and painting. Some have developed their unique style in one or more of these areas. Very few have achieved a cohesive expressivity across all four genres. Ou Da Wei is one of them.
Mr Ou’s painting finds its fullest expression in landscapes. Colour is seldom used—they are almost all in dry ink or ink-wash. Nevertheless, his nimble brushstrokes possess so much vitality that they invariably bring to mind the verdure of spring. This sense of liveliness is interrelated with the artist’s optimism and passion for life. When we inspect his landscapes in closer detail, the pattern that emerges is “disordered yet ordered”. His unique brushwork seems spontaneous, even accidental. In an adroit synthesis of his calligraphy and his painting, Ou renders the contrast between black and white into a juxtaposition of reality and abstraction.
Mr Ou’s calligraphy spans various forms. His cursive script flows exuberantly and seamlessly—or as the Chinese would say, like wisps of cloud and running water. His temple and seal scripts reveal an understanding of historical antecedents but combine traditional solemnity with facetiousness. These are richly moving and individualistic creations. Ou’s style in calligraphy also influences his work in seal engraving, where simplicity of form belies the artist’s dexterity.
Ou Da Wei has immersed himself fully in his artistic universe. As he has said in his own poetry: through his art, he “meets the world with honest feelings and truthful sincerity”.
區大為，書法家、篆刻家、畫家，1947年生， 別署一嘯軒。生於廣州，祖籍廣東雲浮，現居港。曾隨吳子復學習書法及篆刻，並自學山水畫。曾任香港浸會學院校外進修部書法課程導師，香港大一藝術設計學院書法篆刻課程導師，香港中文大學藝術系兼任講師，香港大學專業進修學院書法篆刻教師，香港城市大學中國文化中心客席藝術家等。由八十年代起，作品多度入選香港藝術雙年展，並參加中國、美國、英國、日本、韓國及香港各地的藝術展覽。作品結集有《區大為印譜》系列、《區大為作品集》系列等。作品被香港藝術館、香港文化博物館、中國篆刻藝術館及日本篆刻美術館收藏。現為香港美術家協會理事、香港美術家協會書法委員會副主席、香港康文處博物館專家顧問（2010）。目前為香港中文大學藝術系兼任教授，並任香港藝術發展局視覺藝術顧問。