More than Words: The Art of Calligraphy across Asia

Spanning Armenia to Japan and drawing on the Nelson-Atkins and a small number of private collections, this exhibition explores the roles and aesthetic qualities of writing in Asia from 4 BCE to the present. The installation will introduce calligraphy and how it is made, and then will present four thematic sections:

Faith and Knowledge, including sacred writing from Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian traditions

Word, Image and Poetry, including examples of writing combined with illumination and illustration and calligraphic transcriptions of poems

Word and Authority, demonstrating how calligraphy and writing transmit power and authority.

Writing from different traditions will be juxtaposed to illuminate similarities and/or also contrasting styles. Contemporary works will demonstrate the innovative way calligraphy is used by artists today.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website 

Image: Writing Box, Japanese, Muromachi Period (1392-1568). Lacquer with makie, 3 5/8 x 3 3/4 x 9 1/4 inches. Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust, 64-24 A-I.