The Villages - August 2019 - 18

Spotlight

SHIAO PLOSS
SHARES LOVE OF

CHINESE
CALLIGRAPHY
BY MARK ANDERSON | PHOTO BY ROB WILKERSON

Since she was 3 years old, Shiao Ploss has practiced the art of Chinese calligraphy. Born in Shanghai, China, and raised in Taiwan, Ploss
has an intimate understanding of the fine details and sweeping brushstrokes needed to transcribe the Chinese language on paper.
"When you start something very young, it's a part of you," Ploss said.
Ploss, a Village of St. Charles resident, teaches Chinese calligraphy
and practical Mandarin for beginners at The Villages Enrichment Academy. She covers both the spoken and written forms of the Chinese language, the latter of which can be an art form.
Calligraphy is essentially the art of writing. Calligraphers spend
hours, weeks and years honing their craft - to great result. Regardless
of the language a calligrapher is writing in, the flared brushstrokes or
sweeping pen movements elevate simple words or phrases to works of
art.
For Ploss, this is immediately apparent. Her home is filled with her
calligraphy works - large Chinese characters or phrases in frames, as
well as stacks of examples she uses for her classes.
Though she realizes that Chinese calligraphy may seem daunting to a
beginner, Ploss encourages everyone to at least try it once before deciding
whether they want to learn more.
"(Chinese calligraphy) has to be shown by somebody who is a master
first - that's me," Ploss said. "Then you practice at home. Try it first and
then (decide) whether you like or don't like. Even if you try one time and
say, 'I cannot do it.' At least you tried!"
Ploss says she often hears people say Chinese calligraphy seems too
difficult or daunting to learn, but she enjoys teaching people her native
language - and she has a set plan to help beginners grasp the basics.
"That's my message to everybody who comes to me (and says), 'Oh,
this is too hard, I will never learn,'" Ploss said. "No, you try first. It's
one day a week for an hour and a half and I have a sequence for what I
teach."
As Ploss writes the intricate Chinese characters on a thin piece of rice
paper, her brushstrokes appear almost effortless as she begins at the top
of the paper and works her way down. She stresses that it may be some
time before her students reach the level of calligraphy she is at - flowing
through her brush with ease - although she says with time and plenty
of practice, anyone can learn the art. To quote Chinese philosopher Lao
Tzu, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
18

AUGUST 2019

The Villages - August 2019

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