Contemporary Female Calligraphers' Works: A Symphony and Lyrical Poetry of the Yellow River

To mark the 40th anniversary of Huanghe University of Science and Technology, an inaugural invitation exhibition titled "Ode to the Yellow River" by contemporary female calligraphers opened at the Henan Provincial Art Museum on the morning of May 18th . The exhibition showcased the beauty of the Yellow River through the strokes of 83 talented calligraphers, with styles ranging from delicate to bold and profound to vibrant.

5月18日上午，黄河科技学院建校40周年到来之际，“黄河颂”——首届当代女书法家邀请展在河南省美术馆开幕，展现了83位书法家笔下或婉约或豪放或深沉或明快的黄河之美。

The exhibition was jointly hosted by the Huanghe University of Science and Technology and the Henan Calligraphers Association. Notable calligraphy masters, such as Lin Xiu and Zhang Gaiqin, former advisers to the Chinese Calligraphers Association, and Yang Jie, honorary chairman of the Henan Federation of Literary and Art Circles and honorary chairman of the Henan Calligraphers Association, led the event. Female calligraphers from over 20provinces, regions, and cities across China, as well as several other countries including South Korea, participated in the event. These artists, representing three generations—elder, middle-aged, and young—took “the Yellow River" as their theme and composed original poems or transcribed classic masterpieces from various dynasties. Through the lens of female perspectives, emotions, and brushwork, they aimed to depict the beauty of the Yellow River, narrate its stories, and express their patriotic sentiments.

展览由黄河科技学院和河南省书法家协会共同主办。中国书法家协会原顾问林岫、张改琴，河南省文联名誉主席、省书法家协会名誉主席杨杰等名家领衔，全国20多个省区市及韩国等多个国家的老中青三代女书法家参与创作。她们以“黄河”为题，或自作诗文，或抄写历代经典名篇，用女性的视角、女性的情感、女性的笔墨来表现黄河之美，讲述黄河故事，抒发爱国情怀。

The Yellow River, nurturing the civilization of the Chinese nation for five thousand years, has also given birth to the indomitable and forward-looking essence known as the Yellow River Spirit. Hu Dabai, the founder and chairman of the Huanghe University of Science and Technology, introduced that spirit as the soul of the university's long-term development which has instilled firm beliefs and endless courage in its teachers and students. This exhibition vividly manifests the Yellow River Spirit in the field of calligraphy art.

黄河不仅滋养了华夏五千年的文明，更孕育了不屈不挠、勇往直前的黄河精神。黄河科技学院创办人、董事长胡大白介绍，这种精神是学校长期发展的灵魂，赋予了师生们坚定的信念和无尽的勇气。此次展览便是“黄河精神”在书法艺术领域的生动体现。

"Through this exhibition we provide female calligraphers with a platform for artistic exchange, fostering camaraderie through the medium of writing and facilitating the broader dissemination of Chinese calligraphy. Additionally, calligraphy serves as a conduit for conveying knowledge and values, using this quintessential Chinese art form to pay tribute to the Mother River and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The profound power, deep sentiment, and far-reaching significance encompassed in this exhibition transcend the boundaries of calligraphy itself,” said curator Yang Jie.

“此次展览以书会友，为女性书家群体的书艺交流搭建平台，为中国书法的更好传播开拓路径。同时书以载道，用书法这种最中国的艺术载体，向母亲河、为新中国成立75周年献礼，其中深沉的力量、深厚的情思和深远的意义已经远远超出书法本身。”策展人杨杰说表示。

As one of the participating artists, Pan Shumei made a special trip to attend the event from Taiwan, China. "My husband's ancestral home is in Henan. I am very happy and deeply moved to have my work exhibited here," Pan introduced the creative process behind her artwork, explaining that her husband, deeply longing for his hometown, had composed an original poem titled "Return", which she then transcribed in calligraphic form.

作为参展作者之一，潘淑梅专程从中国台湾地区赶来参加此次活动。“我先生的祖籍是河南，这件作品能够回到河南展出，我感到非常开心、非常有意义。”潘淑梅向记者介绍了作品的创作过程，先生思乡情切创作了题为《归》的自作诗，她便用书法的形式将其记录了下来。

In that afternoon, the "Female and Calligraphy" academic symposium was held at the Huanghe University of Science and Technology. Attendees and calligraphers engaged in discussions on various topics, including the relationship between women and calligraphy, as well as the current status and future prospects of contemporary female calligraphers' work.

当天下午，“女性与书法”学术研讨会在黄河科技学院举行。与会嘉宾和书法家围绕女性与书法的关连、当代女性书家创作现状和发展等议题进行讨论。

During the exhibition, female calligraphers from various regions also visited the National Museum of Chinese Writing and the New Yinxu Museum in Anyang. Embracing the theme of "Walking in Henan, Understanding China", they immersed themselves in Yellow River culture and traced the roots of Chinese characters and calligraphy

展览期间，来自各地的女书法家代表还前往安阳参观中国文字博物馆和殷墟博物馆新馆，追寻汉字与书法之根，“行走河南，读懂中国”，沉浸式体验黄河文化。（中文来源/大河美术报 记者/彭彬 郑广伟 英文编译/童林 刘雪颖 英文审校/丁岚）