Contents What is the Leather Calligraphy? Who is Master Chung Song? The virtual gallery The world of Calligraphy

What is the Leather Calligraphy?

It is an unheard art which has survived more than few hundred years in Korea. Originally bamboo leaves and willow branch were used as brushes but few works from this early era is present today. Until recently in the market place, in the country side, or on a bustling street corner in a big city throughout Korea, you could have seen men painting with a wide-edged brush, tigers, bamboo trees, butterflies, flowers, birds, etc., which instantly turned into letters. This is Korean leather calligraphy, now on the brink of extinction.

The sentiments and mores of the eighteenth century have been well represented in these folklore paintings. Aspiring artists would paint folklore paintings for their living. However, the obstinate ones occupying the orthodox art world have made light of it, and furthermore, treated these painters just as mean clowns and balladeers. Eventually, folklore paintings degenerated into oblivion (Regarding Korean folk art, please refer to specialized books).

Leather calligraphy derived from letter painting which was a genre of folklore painting. Confucian teachings like filial duty, loyalty, and decorum, and personal wishes like prosperity, many descendants, illness-free longevity, etc. were summed up in a concise Chinese letter sentence and written on a scroll to be mounted on a wall, pillar or folding screen. Folklore painters found an easy way to describe these grave ideas. They have symbolized the ideas in the shape of bamboo trees, carps, pine trees, etc. which depicted them. It was a time-consuming and demanding job since each stroke of the brush had to depict a certain image as well as the Chinese character. As time went by, people began to demand quicker service in line with a busier way of life. Leather calligraphy began to emerge naturally.

Colorful calligraphy appeared in the 1930s. After the Korean War the ubiquitous pictorial calligraphers who fled from the war were busy at work in the country side market place. But the number decreased drastically since the mid 1960s. The tradition petered out to non-existence, because it was not recognized as a full-fledged art form by the orthodox painting world and no regular education system existed. The skill was handed down through a master-apprenticeship system and the rapid industrialization of society wiped out these artisans. Nowadays only a handful of artisans can be spotted in areas where foreign tourists frequent.

Chung Song has been fascinated by the beauty of the leather calligraphy since his youth. More than 20 years ago, He was taught how to paint by the best leather calligrapher in those days. Ever since, He has been painting calligraphy work and nowadays he is working in Strasbourg, France which is known as one of the most important european cities.

These works of art, which are hand-made Korean paper with a leather brush, can last many years without any changes in color and paper quality. Many people believed owning a work of colorful calligraphy could usher in good luck.

Who is Master Chung Song?

Chung-Song is a calligrapher came from Seoul, South Korea. His exceptional art, the leather calligraphy was born, hundred eighty years ago, created by a Korean artist, Duk-gong YOU. The leather calligraphy, well that traditional, is not exercised in Korea but by ten of artistes. In his art, Chung-Song has his source of inspiration in the nature, so rich in shapes and in colours. Firstly he learned with a master and he worked alone. He takes his ideas from the observation of the nature: birds, flowers, butterflies …

Chung Song doesn't paint with a brush but with the small pieces of leather that permit him to work at a time with three colours, what is the most beautiful effect. Avec dexterity and ability, under eyes of the public, he draws and paints on paper or on silk, and personalize each of his creations while adding the mythical birds, bamboos, flowers, pagodas, swans and peacocks on every purchaser's name. It is a real pleasure to see to be agitated on the paper or on silk brushes of leather used by Chung Song. Of different widths, brushes of leather permit the simultaneous use of three colours that gives a surprising effect, of all beauty and a remarkable sharpness.

Many people appreciate the quality and the imagination of this artist's work.

Indeed, the originality of his technique consists in what inspires himself from the nature to put in illustrated letters of a name, of a forename, or of any topic.

The result of this work appears in less than five minutes and we let drag by the grace of shapes and the ballet of letters.

- 1975: Disciple of Master Song-Am

- 1979: To enter as artist to the Korean folk village

- 1980: Disciple of Master Byuk-San for the art of engraving on wood with the tip of fire

- 1984: Invited to the exhibition of Metro-java Department Store in Malaysia

- 1985: To pursue his studies in Leather Calligraphy

- 1985: Invited by the mayor of the city of San Antonio in Texas for the works of engraving on wood

- 1986: Opening of his gallery to Itae Won in Seoul

- 1990: To participate in The International Fair of CAEN to present the Korean culture, also to Dijon in November

- 1991: International Fair of Basel (March), Lyon (April), Paris (May), Geneva (November)

- 1992: Fair of Berlin (January), Fair of Nice (March), Paris (May)

- Currently, he always lives in his art in Strasbourg, France

Chung Song create a calligraphy for Mister President of the Switzerland

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Korean traditional picture?

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