Concept information
Preferred term
ugly calligraphy
Definition
- Refers to a contemporary calligraphic style that deliberately challenges traditional aesthetic norms by embracing rough, distorted, and exaggerated forms. It often features irregular stroke thickness, unconventional character structures, and an expressive, almost rebellious quality. Rather than adhering to classical notions of beauty, choushu explores raw emotion, spontaneity, and anti-traditional aesthetics, often overlapping with avant-garde art movements and ignorant style graffiti. Choushu traces its origins to sushu 俗书 (popular or vernacular calligraphy) and defines calligraphic works that appear disharmonious, asymmetric, and inconsistent in form.
Alternative Terms
丑书
Chinese
choushu
Source
- Liu, Zongchao. 2016. “‘Choushu’ zhong de ‘Zhen’ he ‘Shan’ 丑书’中的‘真’与 ‘善’ (The ‘Real’ and the ‘Good’ in ‘Ugly Calligraphy’).” Renmin Taolun 36: 139.
- Vermeeren, Laura. 2020. Inquisitive Ink. A study of contemporary practice of calligraphy in China. M. Phil. Dissertation, University of Amsterdam, 137.
Belongs to group
In other languages
-
choushu
Chinese
URI
http://w3id.org/write/thesaurus/ugly_calligraphy
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