About "Claw Script"

[Claw Script] written by Holly Lee (2013)

In the Chinese philosophical anthology Huainanzi (139 B.C.), it is written: “In ancient times, when Cang Jie invented writing, Heaven rained down millet and ghosts wailed at night.” People felt both blessed and cursed, recognizing that writing held a certain power over them. China’s first writing system, known as Oracle Bone Inscriptions, consisted of characters carved into turtle shells and animal bones. Discovered and unearthed in the late 19th century, these inscriptions primarily record divinations, sacrificial hunts, wars, and natural disasters.

Chinese writing has continued to evolve, and its characters, with their unique formal beauty, developed into the highly refined art form of calligraphy. Reflecting on the origins of Chinese writing, I have come to fully appreciate the history, beauty, and cultural significance of calligraphy.

This mini-series of new works did not come about by chance. When I noticed the scratches on the floor—many made by Suki, my cat—they evoked a strong and familiar feeling, almost with aesthetic qualities akin to the Oracle Bone Script. In a way, Suki expresses his anxiety, curiosity, and perhaps even joy and pain through these remarkable markings. I’ve titled this work the Claw Script series as a playful response and tribute to the ancient, sophisticated, and spellbinding Oracle Bone Script.