57 expat Chinese calligraphy lovers awarded

Guests, the host (first row, 7th from L) and some of the 57 prizewinners of the Fifth Oriental Cup Chinese Calligraphy Contest for the International Community pose for a group photo during the awards ceremony Saturday. Courtesy of the organizer

Representatives of the 57 prizewinners of the Fifth Oriental Cup Chinese Calligraphy Contest for the International Community received prize money and certificates at the Shenzhen Oriental Art Gallery on Saturday.

There was one first prize winner, two second prize winners, three third prize winners and 20 merit prize winners who received 10,000 yuan, 5,000yuan, 3,000 yuan and 600 yuan, respectively. There was also a winner of a special honorable mention and 30 winners of finalists awards who received certificates only.

The 57 prize winners’ calligraphy works stood out from 392 competitors, showing the expats’ enthusiasm for Chinese history and culture.

Xavier Dufresne, one of the second prize winners, said he started learning Chinese calligraphy this January and he is thrilled for the win.

“I think Chinese culture is mysterious, which is so different from western culture. I want to understand the culture behind the characters, and that’s why I’m interested in this kind of Chinese art,” he said.

Tao Yitao, former deputy secretary of the Party committee of Shenzhen University said learning and writing Chinese calligraphy is a simple and interesting way for foreigners to understand Chinese culture and the contest has become a bridge connecting China and the world.

Zhong Fanfei, founder and chairman of the Shenzhen Oriental Art Gallery said, “The process of learning and practicing Chinese calligraphy by foreign friends is itself a process of exchanges and collisions between their own national culture and Chinese culture, which is conducive to deepening the understanding and tolerance between different cultures.”

The contest is sponsored by the Publicity Department of the Futian CPC Party Committee and is directed by the Foreign Affairs Office of Futian District. Over the past five years, the contest has collected more than 2,000 calligraphy works from over 1,000 contestants who come from 62 different countries. This year’s and previous years’ award-winning works are being exhibited at the Shenzhen Oriental Art Gallery between Dec. 11 and Dec. 23.