Born in Beijing in 1943, Zhang Dawo has used his training as a classical calligrapher as a point of departure for exploring the latent potential of this ancient art form. His artistic roots lie in the tradition of Jin-Shi, a 4,000 year-old practice in which symbols were engraved and etched in stone. Having immersed himself in classical tradition in his youth, Zhang Dawo now toys with the spatial arrangements and chromatic possibilities of Chinese calligraphy, making it relevant to modern viewers, both Chinese and otherwise. Though known foremost as an avant-garde calligrapher, Zhang has also experimented with painting and photography.
