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Hair brush

Post #727 • February 9, 2006, 11:22 PM • 8 Comments

From Taichung, a brush made from the hair of a locally renowned calligraphy teacher. Not for sale. Not to me, anyway.

Comment

1.

ahab

February 10, 2006, 1:11 AM

Is there some kind of segue to help me make the transition from the last couple of posts and their ensuing dialogues to this one? Maybe if I start with how different Asian hair typically is from my own Germanic roots.

I can't quite imagine how well this long, fullbodied hairbrush would hold or dispense ink. Seems unwieldy. Did you use anything like this when you were there, Franklin?

2.

Franklin

February 10, 2006, 6:44 AM

Roots? Get it?

I knew that the Chinese took calligraphy seriously, but had no idea to what extent until I got there and saw things like this. It would be unweildy, to be sure, but a master could utilize the randomness to make something expressive. I saw one teacher do beautiful things with a wadded-up paper towel. They're good over there.

3.

oldpro

February 10, 2006, 7:56 AM

It may not be consistent, Ahab, but it sure is different, thank God.

4.

ahab

February 10, 2006, 10:20 AM

They must be calligraphy gods if they made that sign with it.

5.

Franklin

February 10, 2006, 1:16 PM

Not just that - the thing that looks like a smaller brush hanging next to it is actually a trompe-l'oeil painting on the sign, painted using the big brush.

6.

Marc Country

February 11, 2006, 12:13 AM

Hey! You said it was censorship WEEK! What happened to the REAL topic that was SUPPOSED to appear here???

7.

Franklin

February 11, 2006, 10:53 AM

Well, Marc, the Friday post is Rumi, who was a Sufi, and the Sufi order has been persecuted as a heretical group at times. The above sign is written in Danish.

8.

Marc Country

February 13, 2006, 3:11 AM

Yeah yeah, sure... I smell a conspiracy...

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