SDG11
Wen-Chang Wu's poetry and calligraphy exhibition runs at NCKU Gallery until May 30
Professor Wen-Chang Wu, a retired professor from the Department of Chinese Literature at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), is holding a "Modern Poetry and Calligraphy Exhibition" at the NCKU Gallery display window on the Kuang-Fu Campus starting today through May 30. Professor Wu stated that his third poetry collection, The Romance of Freedom, is deeply rooted in New Confucian thought. It integrates Western ideals of democracy, freedom, and science to foster a new cultural movement in Taiwan. This exhibition combines modern poetry, calligraphy, Western painting, and AI-generated singing, showcasing an art form that is both conservative and rebellious, traditional and Western. Wu hopes to inspire a new cultural direction for the people of Taiwan through this innovative artistic expression.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held on the morning of April 10. Professor Shin-Mei Kao, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at NCKU, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarked that the exhibition is a fusion of literature, calligraphy, art, and AI. She recalled Professor Wu’s past exhibitions in the Department of Chinese Literature building and noted that this time, a larger venue was chosen to showcase his work. She expressed hope that more visitors would come to experience the creativity of modern poetry, sparking reflections on social freedom and romance. She also extended her gratitude to everyone who contributed to organizing the exhibition.
Professor Chia-Huang Chen, Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at NCKU and host of the opening ceremony, remarked that this exhibition builds upon the foundation of the previous one, but on a grander scale, with many new works being showcased. He praised Professor Wu for continuing to devote himself to literary creation even after retiring from academia, further developing his artistic talents. He expressed hope that Professor Wu’s future works will be exhibited on an even larger scale.
Professor Hsing-Chuan Tsai, Chair of the Department of History at NCKU, expressed her gratitude to Professor Wu for the invitation. She shared that it reminded her of her own teacher, who also used a brush pen to write letters. She praised Professor Wu for preserving such a valuable tradition, which she believes is worth learning from, and wished the exhibition great success.
Calligrapher Shih-Hsien Chen, a collaborator in this exhibition, shared that he felt an instant connection with Professor Wu upon meeting him. He explained that the curated works in this exhibition blend modern artistic settings and moods. For example, the concept of "love" is portrayed as a scab formed after bleeding from a wound, symbolizing the idea that “though love has scarred, passion still flows.” In another piece titled The Romance of the Plain Girl’s Classic, the phrase “you softly said” is written in delicate brushstrokes with smaller characters, harmonizing the form of calligraphy with the tone of the poem. Chen described this as "imagistic calligraphy," where the writing engages in a dialogue with the poem’s mood and meaning.
After retiring from the Department of Chinese Literature at NCKU, Professor Wen-Chang Wu has dedicated himself to promoting New Confucian philosophy alongside Western thought. His vision is to integrate Western values—such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights—with traditional Confucian philosophy, in order to spark a new cultural movement in Taiwan. He aims to deepen Enlightenment ideals across all levels of society. In addition to serving as President of the Tainan Philosophical Association (TNPA), Professor Wu also published a modern poetry collection titled The Romance of Freedom. Now, in collaboration with calligraphers and painters, he presents this remarkable exhibition.
This exhibition is rich in content and visually stunning, featuring a collection of poems that includes works such as The Confucian Holy Warrior, The Romance of the Plain Girl’s Classic, The Song of the Superman, and The Legend of Liang-Ze Chang. These poems explore a wide range of themes, including New Confucian philosophical ideals, the Taiwanese spirit, modern views on love and sexuality, Nietzsche’s philosophy of the Superman, as well as the struggles of Professor Liang-Ze Chang from the Department of Chinese Literature at NCKU in 1976. At a time when traditional literature dominated the academic atmosphere, Chang fought to promote new literary movements. The exhibition also incorporates AI technology to enrich the viewing experience. By scanning QR codes displayed alongside several poems, visitors can listen to AI-generated renditions of the poetry, further immersing themselves in the artistic expression of the works.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held on the morning of April 10. Professor Shin-Mei Kao, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at NCKU, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarked that the exhibition is a fusion of literature, calligraphy, art, and AI. She recalled Professor Wu’s past exhibitions in the Department of Chinese Literature building and noted that this time, a larger venue was chosen to showcase his work. She expressed hope that more visitors would come to experience the creativity of modern poetry, sparking reflections on social freedom and romance. She also extended her gratitude to everyone who contributed to organizing the exhibition.
Professor Chia-Huang Chen, Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at NCKU and host of the opening ceremony, remarked that this exhibition builds upon the foundation of the previous one, but on a grander scale, with many new works being showcased. He praised Professor Wu for continuing to devote himself to literary creation even after retiring from academia, further developing his artistic talents. He expressed hope that Professor Wu’s future works will be exhibited on an even larger scale.
Professor Hsing-Chuan Tsai, Chair of the Department of History at NCKU, expressed her gratitude to Professor Wu for the invitation. She shared that it reminded her of her own teacher, who also used a brush pen to write letters. She praised Professor Wu for preserving such a valuable tradition, which she believes is worth learning from, and wished the exhibition great success.
Calligrapher Shih-Hsien Chen, a collaborator in this exhibition, shared that he felt an instant connection with Professor Wu upon meeting him. He explained that the curated works in this exhibition blend modern artistic settings and moods. For example, the concept of "love" is portrayed as a scab formed after bleeding from a wound, symbolizing the idea that “though love has scarred, passion still flows.” In another piece titled The Romance of the Plain Girl’s Classic, the phrase “you softly said” is written in delicate brushstrokes with smaller characters, harmonizing the form of calligraphy with the tone of the poem. Chen described this as "imagistic calligraphy," where the writing engages in a dialogue with the poem’s mood and meaning.
After retiring from the Department of Chinese Literature at NCKU, Professor Wen-Chang Wu has dedicated himself to promoting New Confucian philosophy alongside Western thought. His vision is to integrate Western values—such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights—with traditional Confucian philosophy, in order to spark a new cultural movement in Taiwan. He aims to deepen Enlightenment ideals across all levels of society. In addition to serving as President of the Tainan Philosophical Association (TNPA), Professor Wu also published a modern poetry collection titled The Romance of Freedom. Now, in collaboration with calligraphers and painters, he presents this remarkable exhibition.
This exhibition is rich in content and visually stunning, featuring a collection of poems that includes works such as The Confucian Holy Warrior, The Romance of the Plain Girl’s Classic, The Song of the Superman, and The Legend of Liang-Ze Chang. These poems explore a wide range of themes, including New Confucian philosophical ideals, the Taiwanese spirit, modern views on love and sexuality, Nietzsche’s philosophy of the Superman, as well as the struggles of Professor Liang-Ze Chang from the Department of Chinese Literature at NCKU in 1976. At a time when traditional literature dominated the academic atmosphere, Chang fought to promote new literary movements. The exhibition also incorporates AI technology to enrich the viewing experience. By scanning QR codes displayed alongside several poems, visitors can listen to AI-generated renditions of the poetry, further immersing themselves in the artistic expression of the works.
Exhibition Information
Exhibition Period: April 10, 2025 – May 30, 2025
Location: NCKU Art Center, NCKU Gallery Display Window (1st Floor, Student Activities Center, Kuang-Fu Campus)
Exhibition Collaborators: Wen-Chang Wu, Shih-Hsien Chen, Chia-Hong Chen, Yue-Sian Lin, Yamashita Ren
Location: NCKU Art Center, NCKU Gallery Display Window (1st Floor, Student Activities Center, Kuang-Fu Campus)
Exhibition Collaborators: Wen-Chang Wu, Shih-Hsien Chen, Chia-Hong Chen, Yue-Sian Lin, Yamashita Ren
The Wen-Chang Wu Modern Poetry and Calligraphy Exhibition is now open and will run until May 30 at the NCKU Gallery display window.
(From left to right: Professor Wen-Chang Wu, retired from the Department of Chinese Literature at NCKU, and calligrapher Shih-Hsien Chen)
The Wen-Chang Wu Modern Poetry and Calligraphy Exhibition: The Romance of Freedom held its opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of April 10.
(From left to right in the photo: Professor Hsing-Chuan Tsai, Chair of the Department of History at NCKU, calligrapher Shih-Hsien Chen, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at NCKU Shin-Mei Kao, and Professor Wen-Chang Wu, retired from the Department of Chinese Literature at NCKU)
At the opening ceremony, the audience gathered to admire the works that combine modern poetry with imagistic calligraphy, appreciating the deep artistic expression conveyed through these pieces.
At the exhibition, visitors can scan the QR codes displayed alongside several poems to enjoy AI-generated renditions of the poetry, enhancing the immersive experience.
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