What captivating transformations might the ancient characters of "Oracle Bone Inscriptions" reveal after millennia of dormancy? The answer may be held in Chen Nan's studio.
沉睡数千年的古老文字“甲骨文”，会幻化出怎样的惊艳？或许在陈楠的工作室就能找到答案。
Upon entering Professor Chen Nan's studio at Tsinghua University's Academy of Arts & Design, you'll feel as though you've stepped into a "museum" of Oracle Bone Inscriptions. There are exquisitely crafted hollowed-out screens featuring the ancient script, posters, showcasing the twelve zodiac animals in Oracle Bone Inscriptions, and installation models that blend modern industrial aesthetics with the script. The studio also houses captivating calligraphy works of Oracle Bone Inscriptions and related historical documents and literature.
走进清华大学美术学院陈楠教授的工作室，仿佛看到了一个琳琅满目的甲骨文“博物馆”。制作精美的甲骨文镂空屏风、以十二生肖为主题的甲骨文海报、融入现代工业风的甲骨文装置模型、妙趣横生充满创意的甲骨文字画……在满架的文献典籍之间，随处可见各种甲骨文设计作品。
However, Chen Nan's passion for Oracle Bone Inscriptions research and creation is no mere coincidence.
然而，陈楠热衷甲骨文研究创作并非偶然。
During his studies at the Central Academy of Arts & Design (now the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University) in the early 1990s, Chen Nan became fascinated with the integration of modern design concepts with traditional Chinese culture and began to seek inspirations for his artistic and design creations from rich Chinese characters.
20世纪90年代初在中央工艺美术学院（今清华大学美术学院）学习期间，他就着迷于在中国传统文化中挖掘现代设计理念，开始从汉字中寻找艺术设计创作的诸多灵感。
Around 1999, he embarked on the research and practical exploration of "Digitized Oracle Bone Inscriptions". At that time, this field was relatively unexplored and received little attention.
1999年前后，他开始了“数字化甲骨文”的研究与实践探索。彼时，这一领域还很少有人问津。
Despite the common stereotype of ancient linguistics as abstruse and esoteric, which leads many to keep their distance from the mysterious Oracle Bone Inscriptions, Chen Nan did not shrink back in the face of numerous challenges.
“相对于其他文化来讲，许多人对古文字学存有高深晦涩的刻板印象，对于神秘的甲骨文有点敬而远之。”面对重重困境，陈楠并未退缩。
Throughout his long-term research, Chen Nan scoured ancient texts, visited historical sites, and consulted with experts. His boundless imagination was channeled into the increasingly rich pages of his manuscripts.
在长期的研究中，他查古籍、访古迹、询专家，天马行空的思路在手稿本上积累得越来越厚。
By incorporating fresh perspectives from modern design, Chen Nan embarked on a journey to digitally present and extract the inherent order and rhythm of the ancient mathematical beauty found within Oracle Bone Inscriptions. He introduced the groundbreaking concept of "metrical design" in the academic world, serving as a guide to revitalize the form of Oracle Bone Inscriptions. Ultimately, a new Oracle Bone Inscriptions font with modern vitality emerged on paper, leading to the development of a series of cultural and creative derivative works. Through his persistent exploration over 18 years, Chen Nan successfully created a new Oracle Bone Inscriptions font that exudes contemporary vitality, developed a series of cultural and creative works, and achieved a remarkable milestone by designing the world's first set of Oracle Bone Inscriptions fonts – "Han Yi Chen Font Oracle Bone Inscriptions."
结合现代设计的新视点，终于摸索出一条通过数字化呈现的手段，挖掘提取古老的甲骨文字间具有数学之美的秩序与韵律，他在学术界首先提出“格律设计”的设计方法论，并以此作为活化设计甲骨文的概念指导。最终，一个具有现代活力的新甲骨文字体跃然纸上，并开发了一系列文创衍生作品。经过18年的不断摸索，2017年，他设计出全球首套甲骨文设计字库——“汉仪陈体甲骨文”。
The process of research and creation is accompanied by hardships and joys, but Chen Nan always derives great satisfaction from his work. "The Chinese characters have maintained a powerful vitality for thousands of years, which is truly remarkable. As artists and designers, we have the responsibility to introduce the richness of traditional Chinese culture into every household."
研究与创作的过程伴随着艰辛与喜悦，但他却始终乐在其中：“汉字传承数千年始终保持着强大的生命力，这是很了不起的事情，我们艺术工作者、设计师有责任让中华优秀传统文化走进千家万户。”
With the innovation of Oracle Bone Inscriptions emojis, the ancient characters have garnered a renewed sense of vitality. The "Intelligent Rendering Oracle Bone" project seamlessly merges the cultural dissemination of Oracle Bone Inscriptions with cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, offering people an immersive experience of the legendary journey spanning over three thousand years that these ancient characters have taken. What's more, the studio has created a range of cultural and creative merchandise, such as batik silk scarves, 3D greeting cards, and New Year calendars, establishing a heartfelt connection between traditional culture and everyday life.
随着甲骨文表情包的“横空出世”，古文字再一次被赋予了新的活力。“智绘甲骨”项目将甲骨文的文化传播与人工智能机器学习最新科技相结合，在人机交互中感受穿越三千多年的古文字传奇体验。制作文创周边，蜡染丝巾、立体贺卡、新年日历等，将传统文化与现实生活“有温度的连接”。这些在陈楠工作室中似乎都得以实现。
Chen Nan is dedicated to integrating ancient characters with modern life, promoting the significance of IP (Intellectual Property) design in both practice and education. He believes that Chinese characters are not only important cultural symbols, but should be brought closer to people's daily life.
陈楠努力推动IP设计在设计实践与教学中的位置，致力于将古老的文字与现代生活相融合，正如他所说：“汉字本身就是重要的文化符号，应该让汉字承载的中华文化更加贴近人们的日常生活。”
For his Oracle Bone Inscription research, Chen Nan has visited Anyang's Yinxu many times.
出于研究甲骨文的需要，陈楠曾无数次去殷墟参观采风，他亲切地称安阳为“第二故乡”。
Out of his love to Anyang, Chen Nan designed the new emblem for the recently opened New Yinxu Museum, showcasing his passion for the beauty of ancient characters and traditional Chinese decorative arts.
今年，殷墟博物馆新馆开馆，而新馆徽的标志设计正是出自陈楠之手。标志图形中饱含了他对于古文字之美、中国传统装饰艺术语言的热爱与心力。
Each time he visits Henan, Chen Nan has a different experience. "The most fascinating aspect here is that it allows you to immerse yourself in the narrative scenes of culture and history as if traveling through time." Chen Nan expresses his hope to absorb more knowledge and explore further creative inspiration in this treasure trove of cultural research and artistic design.
每次来河南，陈楠都有不同的体会，“这里最迷人之处是，能让你如穿越般进入文化与历史的叙事情景。”他表示，希望以后能在这座文化研究和艺术设计的宝库中吸收更多的养分、探寻更多的创作灵感。
From being viewed "obscure and esoteric" to now experiencing "explosive popularity", Chen Nan considers himself fortunate. "Embarking on this path of artistic creation has both elements of chance and inevitability. I feel that Oracle Bone Inscriptions are like a time capsule from three thousand years ago, recording the ancient and mysterious atmosphere of that era. Through them, I am able to touch history in a real and tangible way and decipher the dormant codes of civilization." Chen Nan is determined to continue pursuing the path of disseminating the art of Oracle Bone Inscriptions to a wider audience.
从“冷门绝学”的无人理解到甲骨文研究成果的火爆“出圈”，陈楠称自己是幸运的：“走上了这条艺术创作之路，既有偶然性又充满必然，我觉得甲骨文像是一台三千年前的摄影机，记录下古老的神秘意境，通过它就像真实地触摸到了历史，破解了那些沉睡着的文明密码。”陈楠说将一直在甲骨文艺术传播的路上探寻。（中文来源/河南日报 记者/王曦辉 梁莹莹 李向华 编译/童林 刘雪颖 英文审校/丁岚 ）