Got a Chinese visitor who as far as I can tell, occupies his life and time staring at a big hunk of paper then scribbling on it. The guy is doing calligraphy, and for those of you who dont know what that is, its like state sponsored graffiti. What I mean is that its like a way for adults to scribble and decorate stuff all in the name of ‘ancient Chinese customs’.
so anyway, this guy will pace around like Hemingway at a bar then rushing to this weird paper will poise that long brush they use then as if he’s cutting diamonds he chips away and leaves a line or two. The guy then calls me over and smiles. I’m looking down at a butt load of straight lines, seems like the Chinese dont like circles in their characters. So anyway he’s looking like i’m supposed to respond, like being in front of Freud or a rohrshack.
I basically look at him in his ‘burn out butt’ pants and nod ,showing him my glistening butter yellow chompers and say tai hao , or very good. I walk away thinking ‘what a life’. and this guy is thinking ‘dumbass’ you don’t recognize art.