Hilde Mertens
Contemporary Chinese Calligraphy
ART SALON
the eight Chinese characters project
For our first Art Salon, we invite you to come and explore the Yao Sang Cheong calligraphy store, a treasure trove of Chinese ink, xuan paper and brushes, the foundations of Chinese calligraphy and pinnacle of Chinese art, culture and storytelling, and so much more.
The Eight Chinese Characters is a living installation of contemporary Chinese calligraphy, philosophy and storytelling.
Built around eight foundational characters that form the conceptual language of my work, the installation is an invitation to look deeper into Chinese art and culture and into how cultures create meaning, stories and identity. It asks not only how we arrive at meaning, but if what we see just confirms what is familiar to us or opens our minds to new understandings of ourselves and of others, acknowledging that ongoing change will always push the boundaries of established conceptual frameworks.
November 7, 2026
Group 1: 11.00-12.00
Group 2: 14.00-15.00
Please reserve your place in advance - spaces are limited to 12 per group.
RSVP hildemertensink@gmail.com
Yau Sang Cheong Calligraphy & Artist Supplies
3F Cheung Wah Commercial Bldg.
3-5 Saigon Street, Yaumatei, Kowloon
(mtr: Jordan, exit B)
in collaboration with
The Belgian Days 2026
Yao Sang Cheong Calligraphy & Artist Supplies
Cromostudio htpps://www.cromostudio.com
the ink meditation room
new narratives in 8 chinese characters
November 8-15, 2025
This installation reinterprets Chinese calligraphy through eight foundational characters, 秘 (hidden), 兼 (both/and), 素 (essence), 偽 (constructed), 間 (interval), 氣 (energy), 微 (subtle), 破 (rupture), as a living vocabulary for exploring how cultures, meaning, stories and identity are formed, filtered, and transformed.
From 氣 (Qi), the flow of constant transformation visible in the energy and movement of brushstrokes, to 素 (Su), the essence beneath the ten thousand things; from the opportunity of empty spaces and 間 (Jian), the gaps in between, to 破 (Po), breaking apart the boundaries of what we know and time in the meditative act of creation. It is a world that never stands still.
is one line still art?
“su”
basic element, plain
essence, original state, simplicity
What is unnecessary quietly falls away. A space where nothing has to be proven. Only the silent presence of essence itself.
in collaboration with
The Belgian Days 2025
Hang Lung Properties
& Net.Work
Lingnan university
Tom lee Music
Piaf Alignment Studio
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Venue: 18F, 228 Electric Road, Fortress Hill, HK
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November 8–15: Open visits to the Ink Meditation Room, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
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November 8: Lingnan University Storytelling Ceremony, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (by invitation only)
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November 11: Buddhist Singing Bowl Meditation hosted by Piaf Alignment Studio, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (RSVP)
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November 13: Meditation Room Ceremony,
with Fiona Foo, Professional Musician, Marimba & Percussion Artist, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM (RSVP)
My story
ink studio
HK Club I&II
Le Meridien-Marriott
Bloomberg
Jebsen & AI art
ai orchids & art
hang lung