Date: Aug 1 - Sep 7, 2026
Venue: Tsang Shiu Tim Art Hall & Yip Kit Chuen and Yuen Yuk Hing Talent Hub at HKUST
In celebration of its 35th anniversary, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is honoured to receive a generous donation of 35 calligraphic works from the“Ode to Chinese Characters” series, by renowned calligrapher Mr. Su Shishu.
To honor this meaningful donation, the ""Ode to Chinese Characters"" Su Shishu Calligraphy Exhibition will be held at HKUST’s Lee Shau Kee Library from August 1 to September 7, 2026. This exhibition aims to promote academic research, cultural dissemination, and international exchange related to the art of Chinese characters. An accompanying academic lecture on Chinese calligraphy will take place in early September, open to the HKUST community and the general public.
The Opening Ceremony and Donation Agreement Signing, will be held on HKUST campus on August 1, 2026. Mr. Su Shishu and members of the University leadership will preside over the ceremony, joined by faculty, students, and distinguished guests from the cultural and arts sectors.
(Please click here for Ceremony Details and Registration)
Mr. Su Shishu’s “Ode to Chinese Characters” series is an acclaimed ""three-dimensional chronicle of 5,000 years of Chinese script"". It upholds a structure that progresses from an opening thesis through nine historical scripts and the six principles of character formation, culminating in a grand finale. The series meticulously traces the evolution of scripts from oracle bone to Tang-dynasty regular script (kaishu), elucidates the liushu theory of character construction, and concludes with two monumental works—In Praise of Chinese Calligraphy and In Praise of the Bauhinia—thereby forming a complete aesthetic cycle of the Chinese written word.
Biography of Mr. Su Shishu
Mr. Su Shishu is a distinguished contemporary Chinese calligrapher. He served as a Member of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and as a Standing Committee Member of the 11th and 12th CPPCC National Committees. He is also a Member of the Central Research Institute of Culture and History, and was the 7th President of the China Calligraphers Association. In addition, he has taught calligraphy at Tsinghua University, Beijing Normal University, and other institutions.
A student of Liu Boqin and later the master Qi Gong, Mr. Su is proficient in all major script styles, especially seal and clerical scripts. As chief editor of works including The Complete Collection of Chinese Calligraphy and Selected Steles and Model Calligraphy Through the Dynasties, his publications have sold over ten million copies and remain highly influential. In 2008, he received the Taofen Publishing Award, China's top publishing honor.
Beyond organizing calligraphy exhibitions domestically and abroad, Mr. Su has actively promoted the inclusion of calligraphy in primary and secondary school curricula nationwide. Through sustained efforts, he has made significant contributions to preserving and advancing China’s traditional culture.