Artist Xu Hongke
Calligrapher, educator, and the hand behind Bokwai’s original calligraphy.
Xu Hongke is a Chinese calligrapher and educator based in Maotai Town, Guizhou, near the Chishui River.
He began learning calligraphy in childhood, building his foundation through regular script and small regular script before continuing into the study of historical brush traditions. His practice is shaped by close attention to structure, rhythm, material, and language.
In 2016, he founded Chishui River Academy, where he teaches children and adults. Teaching keeps calligraphy close to ordinary life: writing, observing, correcting, and returning to the brush.
For Bokwai, Xu begins with what a work should carry—a name, memory, value, relationship, or turning point. He considers the expression in Chinese, explores its rhythm and composition, and writes each work by hand with brush and ink on Xuan paper.
The selected work is then carefully digitized for contemporary use, preserving the variation and character of the original brushwork.