赵雪洪Zhao Xuehong

Zhao Xuehong, born in 1948, is a Shanghai-based calligrapher with a profound educational background. Having dedicated 38 years to secondary education, he currently serves as a registered teacher with the Chinese Calligraphers Association, a council member of the Chinese Calligraphy and Painting Association for Middle-aged and Elderly, and a member of the Senior Committee of the Shanghai Calligraphers Association. Additionally, he is affiliated with the Shanghai Magnolia Calligraphy and Painting Society and the Shanghai Tao Xingzhi Calligraphy and Painting Academy.

 

 

——Impressions of Zhao Xuehong's Calligraphy

 

Huang Jinliang (Editor-in-Chief of The China Calligraphy and Painting Guide)

 

Sun Guoting mentioned in *The Spectrum of Calligraphy*: "Depart from yet do not violate; harmonize yet differ." Outstanding calligraphic creation is both modest and balanced in composition, yet also interwoven and responsive, with mutual regard and dynamic interaction. Mr. Zhao Xuehong's calligraphic works respect tradition, avoiding the pursuit of stylistic construction or flamboyant individuality, which stems from his refined temperament and disposition. This collection of over a dozen exemplary works by Mr. Zhao Xuehong is a microcosm of his diligent creative efforts. While it may not fully reflect the breadth of his artistic vision, it profoundly conveys his deep passion for calligraphy and solid practical expertise in the craft.

 

As the ancients said, "Only the charm of calligraphy and painting is beyond reach." In all arts, vitality and grace are paramount. Mr. Zhao Xuehong excels in running script, tracing the lineage of the Two Wangs, retracing their footsteps, and delving into the origins. He values breath and conception, allowing his spirit to roam without straying beyond bounds. He places great emphasis on copying models, reflecting deeply on how ancient cultural backgrounds, characters, and aesthetic genes evoke resonance within him, then pondering how to employ contemporary brushwork spirit and techniques to express his inner feelings. Thus, in his running script, Zhao Xuehong particularly emphasizes brushwork and ink techniques—whether entering with a solid stroke, wrapping the tip before applying the brush, lifting and dragging the tip forward, maintaining balanced curvature and straightness, achieving roundness in turns, and ensuring proper speed and friction. The strokes flow smoothly, without the flat, embroidered appearance of mere imitation.

 

Zhao Xuehong's calligraphy emphasizes the importance of capturing momentum. He skillfully masters the variations in character composition—such as unevenness, size, direction, undulation, dryness vs. moisture, intensity, density, orientation, speed, weight, distribution, and the dynamic shifts in posture and alignment. By adhering to the essence of form and trends, he expresses his unique ingenuity. Consequently, his works often exude an air of elegance, simplicity, and profound depth.  Notably, Zhao Xuehong courageously innovates while remaining rooted in tradition, adapting to the aesthetic evolution of contemporary life. He infuses his personal artistic language, blending cleverness with simplicity, subtlety with versatility. The antiquity is never devoid of spontaneity, and the variations never lose structural discipline. His brushwork fully embodies a carefree demeanor and profound connotation.