Harking back to pen and ink

Press, 19 April 1989, Page 23

Harking back to pen and ink

By

CHRISTOPHER

MOORE

A growing number of New Zealanders is abandoning typewriters, word processors, tape recorders and ballpoint pens in favour of the ancient art of writing with pen and ink.

The calligraphic arts at present feature in an exhibition at Christchurch’s Cave Rock Gallery. The work of the country’s calligraphers and papermakers has been brought together to spread the word about arts which combine delicacy of touch, an eye for details and a sense of harmony and balance. The exhibition’s opening last Saturday coincided with the first national calligraphic meeting in Christchurch. Rhythm, spontaneity, sharpness and clarity are the basic qualities of good calligraphy. The first recognisable alphabetic script possibly evolved among the Western Semitic people about 1600 BC, spreading across the Mediterranean civilisations. The Greek alphabet began to take shape about 1000 to 900 BC reaching a climax between 500 and 300 BC. From that point, calligraphy and calligraphic styles launched themselves across the known world. Carolin-

gian, Transitional, Gothic, Humanist, Italic became part of the calligrapher’s vocabulary. The art of calligraphy declined during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. At the end of the nineteenth century, an English medical student, Edward Johnston, began to study manuscripts and documents in the British Museum. His research lifted the lid on a calligraphic treasure house and reawakened interest in the art as opposed to the simple mechanics of writing. In 1906, Johnston’s book “Writing and Illuminating and Lettering” became the calligrapher’s bible. His classes at the Central School of Arts and the Royal College of Art encouraged and developed skills and awareness which continue to influence contemporary calligraphers. The New Zealand Society of Calligraphers was

recently formed to draw these skills together, pooling expertise and sharing information. Hand-made paper is 'also a venerable skill, going back to the ancient Arab traders to China. Fibrous materials such as grass, bark, linen and rags were felted together to make a material for writing. In the Western world, papyrus and vellum are two background writing materials which are the forerunners of presentday papers. Papermaking has also been developed to a high artistic degree in Japan. More lately, and in a very textural form, handmade paper has become a revived interest in this country. Papers in the exhibition are from the Handmade Studio. They are by adult handicapped people and the proceeds from the sale of these will go to this studio. Some of the Japanese papers have been mounted as colourfull wall hangings and are also for sale. A display of bookbinding by Andrew Hoggen includes examples of old and new forms. There will also be a presentation of collages by Michael Anderson and paper sculpture by Mark Lander. The exhibition runs until April 28.