I was fascinated right from the beginning by the fact that Chinese calligraphy is not a decorative art. This allows me to express what, as far as I am concerned, represents the value of art: an ethical commitment of devotion to beauty, pure expression, deep communication, research, originality and style. Even though calligraphy has expanded a feeling of solitude in my life, through the use of a brush I have acquired greater awareness of my resources and I become more and more aware of the depth of my sign as it wants to penetrate the space and go beyond the image, together with my mind. Fortunately calligraphy exists, I often say to myself, abandoned before the idea that is gradually created spontaneously! Skills are enhanced by experience, by domination of the forms of Chinese writing, by knowing how to interpret styles of calligraphy by illustrious maestros of the past and by the use of seals, as well as understanding and investigating into the concept of cultivation that is born in the world of the Chinese literary. And my work is constantly changing: a kind of endless change, contaminated by a sense of immortality: an idea that belongs to the tradition of the han population.
Florence based creative director at Kachina, artist and Chinese calligraphy master at the FeiMo Contemporary Calligraphy school in Florence and Milan, President of the International Calligraphers Association Italian Headquarters and Vice President of the International Calligraphers Association Chinese Headquarter, creator of the femaleproject research and study project for Far Eastern calligraphy, Paola Billi 宝拉 比利 ( 西子) is often invited to the most significant international han calligraphy shows. Awarded the special judge's prize at the Jeollabukdo Calligraphy Biennale 2007, she represented Italy at the 8th International Calligraphy Exchange Exhibition, which was held in Beijing to celebrate the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games. Thanks to invites to International calligraphy exhibitions she often travels to Eastern Asia and collaborates with various artists and academic masters. The latest recognition came from Beijing Beida University, in the form of “excellent international teacher” and with the commission of calligraphic works by Qinghua University for 100th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Qinghua University of Beijing.
International Institutions Collaborations:
International Calligraphers Association Beijing
International Calligraphers Federation Beijing
The Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore
Beijing University Calligraphy Committee, Beijing
Qinghua University, Beijing, China
World Calligraphy Biennale of Jeollabuk-do, Jeonju, Korea
High School Mainichi Shodo Association, Osaka, Japan
Art of Ink in America Society, AIAS New York USA
Art of Seal Carving Association, Los Angeles, USA
Institut National de Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO), Paris
Italian Institutions Collaborations:
Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, Firenze
Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, Venezia
Centro Studi d’Arte Estremo Orientale, Bologna
City of Florence
Civica Scuola di Lingue e Culture Orientali (Is.I.A.O.), Milano
Civico Museo del Sigillo, La Spezia
Consulate General of China in Florence
Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena
Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Firenze
Future Concept Lab, Milano
Gabinetto Vieusseux Vieusseux-Asia, Firenze
Istituto Confucio Pisa
Istituto Statale d’Arte di Firenze, Firenze
Liceo Artistico Statale L.B. Alberti, Firenze
Monastero Zen Il Cerchio, Milano
Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale, Roma
Museo Pecci di Prato
Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia