The 4th Industrial Revolution and the Trend of Written Language

Sangho Kwon (Principal of Poongdeong Art School)

The reason why works of art are precious is because it shows us the flow and culture of time most honestly.

Calligraphy was a cutting-edge art that expressed the emotions of time through characters. So, calligraphy has faced the reality of time and led emotions in the highest position of all art genres. Calligraphers have enjoyed ‘literary power’ and represented accurately the epoch of philosophy and politics as well as literature and history.

In the twentieth century, humanity suffered a great war two times, something that has never been heard of Liberal arts has been abandoned and only the importance of science and technology has been emphasized in order to take advantage of power. Pure economic justice to rescue the people is disappearing and is still rushing toward the endless peak of mammonism.

In the 21st century, the development of information and communication technology will lead to the SNS era, and as the online world unfolds, the offline world begins to wane.

During this process, we lost the brush or pen to a keyboard or keypad and lost the power to think to a computer.

The 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' which emerged as a new topic in this century, is approaching very rapidly. I am going to find a new way of calligraphy while worrying about the fate of calligraphy to be thrown in the terrible waves of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Industry and art are is like two wings of a bird : industry is the reality of an imaginary world and art is a result of the imagination. So, industry and art can be said to be in a relationship.

Klaus Schwab predicts economical, corporate, national and international, social and personal impacts by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Then what is the best policy for the future of calligraphy?

First, the age of low growth and an aging society is now approaching. This is a rather nice chance for calligraphers to work.

Second, the labor crisis must come back. Due to the automation, high-risk jobs has increased. There are also popular jobs such as social workers, choreographers, physicians, surgeons, HR (Human Relation) managers, etc. Calligraphers should find their way in HR.

Third, if the Fourth Industrial Revolution comes, we must be concerned with the gender gap between men and women. However, calligraphy is an area where there is no gender gap.

Fourth, disruptive innovation in calligraphy is needed. We should sincerely study to look for fresh ideas and innovative molding methods. This is not in a return to the past, but in a future-oriented attitude.

Fifth, like all arts, calligraphy is primarily analogical. However, production, exhibition, and publicity should be digitized.

Sixth, we have to live as an artist whose feelings, expressions, and emotions can not be followed by robots. You need to make the most of big data, cooperate with human sensibility, and live with robots.

Seventh, calligraphy should utilize digital technology. Various calligraphy organizations should operate more transparently and sincerely. For example, online exhibitions are emerging as an alternative.

Eighth, calligraphers should also try to form clusters and participate in the Mecenat movement.

Finally, calligraphy rooms should be shared like cars to create synergy.

In the age of acceleration, there is nothing happier than going slow. Enjoying slow art calligraphy is another way to happiness in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Calligraphy is also a key to long living. As a smart calligrapher who can utilize ICT, One should actively be an 'approaching calligrapher', enjoying live calligraphy. It also adds fun to calligraphy by expanding the area with group calligraphy, performance calligraphy, event calligraphy, outdoor calligraphy, music calligraphy, dance calligraphy, and English calligraphy. I hope that a new epoch will take place in the calligraphical art world in this  ubiquitous era based on information and technology.