Marking 400 years of Keelung’s historical ties to the world, the Keelung City Calligraphy Association presented its 2026 Members’ Exhibition, Tidal Rhythms and Ink Shadows (潮聲墨影), at the Keelung Museum of Art. The opening ceremony took place on October 11, 2026, featuring about 200 works by association members and renowned calligraphers. About 100 guests, including cultural figures and elected representatives, attended the celebration, which combined calligraphy, poetry, and dance to showcase this port city’s cultural heritage and artistic vitality in northern Taiwan.
Where tides meet ink: A rich diversity of calligraphic styles
The exhibition’s central theme, “Tides Make Their Voices Heard, While Ink Leaves Its Shadows,” evokes a dialogue between the sea’s rhythm and the expressive beauty of Chinese calligraphy.
The collection features approximately 200 works in a wide range of styles, including standard script (Kai), semi-cursive (Xing), cursive (Cao), clerical (Li), and seal script (Zhuan), as well as bronze inscriptions (king), and contemporary artistic interpretations. From powerful, free-flowing cursive writing to elegant and meticulously structured regular script, the works demonstrate the artists’ technical mastery and individual creativity.
Renowned Taiwanese poet and calligrapher Chiang Meng-lung composed a couplet for the exhibition: “Across a thousand ages, Taiwan shines through ink shadows; across the four seas, Keelung’s tidal voices resound (鯤島千秋昭墨影,雞籠四海振潮聲).”
The couplet captures the exhibition’s theme while celebrating the city’s cultural identity. In another collaborative highlight, board members each wrote one character to form the four-character title, Tidal Rhythms and Ink Shadows, bringing together different artistic styles in a unified presentation.
Calligraphy in mid-air: A relay of poetry and artistic legacy
Renowned calligraphers took turns demonstrating their skills during the opening ceremony. One of the most striking performances featured former association chairpersons writing lines of a seven-character regulated poem in mid-air in a relay-style presentation. The performance brought poetry and calligraphy together while symbolizing the continuity of artistic traditions across generations.
The participating calligraphers included Chiang Meng-lung, Lien Sheng-yen, Chen Wei-te, Tao Ching-shan, Pan Ching-chung, Shen Jung-huai, Chen Ming-ching, Lee Chien-te, and Pan Shu-mei. Their dynamic brushwork created a visually compelling spectacle, highlighting the strength, rhythm, and expressive power of traditional Chinese calligraphy.
Sleeve dance and poetry recitation celebrate traditional culture
The Keelung City Cheongsam Association added elegance to the ceremony with a graceful long-sleeve dance. Wearing traditional cheongsams, the performers moved their flowing sleeves in sweeping patterns that echoed the pauses, turns, and rhythmic strokes of calligraphy.
The contrast between the dancers’ graceful movements and the vigorous energy of the brushwork created a captivating artistic dialogue, bringing the theme of Tidal Rhythms and Ink Shadows to life.
The program also included poetry recitation and a calligraphy quiz with works by renowned calligraphers as prizes. During the group photo, approximately 100 guests enthusiastically chanted two slogans: “Tidal Rhythms and Ink Shadows, Celebrating Arts and Culture (潮聲墨影，藝文傳情)!” and “United Through Calligraphy, Making Keelung More Beautiful (書道連心，基隆更美)!”
Ninety-three years of calligraphic heritage
With a 93-year history, the Keelung City Calligraphy Association has long promoted calligraphy and passed the art to younger generations. Its ongoing Children’s Calligraphy Art Summer Camp introduces students to the beauty of brushwork and helps traditional culture take root among young people.
The Tidal Rhythms and Ink Shadows exhibition celebrates not only the depth and diversity of Chinese calligraphy but also the possibilities of artistic innovation through the integration of poetry, dance, and music. As Keelung commemorates its 400-year historical milestone, the exhibition uses the language of ink and brush to connect history, culture, and community, adding a memorable chapter to the city’s cultural story.
The exhibition runs from October 6 to 27, 2026, at the Keelung Museum of Art, inviting visitors to appreciate calligraphy’s beauty and celebrate the enduring legacy of traditional arts.
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