Physical Asemic Calligraphy

Overview

This piece translates a layered Buddhist soundscape into asemic calligraphy as graphical notation. By abstracting radicals—the core of Chinese characters—into expressive marks, the work traces the ephemeral rhythm of temple instruments. Each glyph visually responds to shifts in tone, volume, and repetition, echoing the transience of chant and ritual.

Physical Asemic Calligraphy

Experiment 1

This work reimagines writing as graphical notation—a system where sound is represented visually rather than through musical notes or language. Inspired by Buddhist ritual rhythms, the glyphs reflect not meaning, but sensation.

The piece is arranged left to right, top to bottom, echoing traditional Chinese reading direction. However, instead of regular vertical columns, the layout flows with musicality, shaped by the temporal and spatial qualities of the audio. The Y-axis (top to bottom) reflects the passage of time—from the beginning to the end of the soundtrack. The X-axis (left to right) represents dynamics—from soft to loud.

Below shows the system and structure in defining my Asemic Glyphs.

Visual Structure

Chinese radicals are the fundamental building blocks of Chinese characters—they carry meaning, pronounciation, and structure. In my asemic writing system, I recontextualized radicals to act as a visual and emotional seed for glyph creation. For each expressive state, I assigned one radical to it, using both symbolic meaning and visual stroke logic as criteria.

Radicals symbolise emotion or motion:

心[xīn; heart]: Central in Buddhist texts, the heart represents calm, introspection, and softness.

火[huǒ; fire]: The radical’s flame-like structure implies intensity, speed, and urgency.

氵[shuǐ; water]: The radical’s flowing curves suggest undulating motion. Represents rhythm and transition.

彳[chì; step]: Denotes small, repeated actions. Its visual symmetry encourages vertical, evenly spaced patterns.

Radical used: 心 [xīn; heart] - symbolises emotions.

Strokes start fast from the top, gradually slowing down at the bottom radical.

Radical used: 日 [rì; day, sun] - symbolises time, cycle.

Strokes are horizontal, reflecting a measured, contemplative rhythm—akin to slow breathing of reciting a sutra.

Radical used: 日 [rì; day, sun] - symbolises time, cycle.

Strokes are sweeping at the top, gradually slowing down to vertical strokes and an emphasis on horizontal strokes.

Slow Asemic Glyphs

Radicals used: 火 [huo; fire] - symbolises speed and intensity.

Strokes are swift and sweeping, mirroring the flickering, unpredictable nature of flames—capturing urgency and dynamic movement.

Radicals used: 火 [huǒ; fire] - symbolises speed and intensity.

Starting on the left, strokes are swift and sweeping, transforming to the radical on the right.

Radicals used: 火 [huo; fire] - symbolises speed and intensity.

Strokes are written swiftly on the top, complementing the mirrong strokes on the bottom.

Fast Asemic Glyphs

Radicals used: 水 [shui; water] - symbolises flow and adaptability.

Strokes are are swift and circular, mimicking ripples in water.

Radicals used: 氵[shui; water] - symbolises flow and adaptability.

Writing on the right complements the radical on the left, with long (pause-like) and swift strokes, embodying expansion and resonance—akin to sound waves or droplets.

Radicals used: 氵[shui; water] - symbolises flow and adaptability.

Swift strokes with 点 [diǎn; dot] strokes to symbolise water droplets.

Fluid Asemic Glyphs

Radical used: 彳 [chì; step] - symbolises movement and progression.

Strokes are cyclical, looped, and vertically structured, echoing rhythmic chanting.

Radical used: 彳 [chì; step] - symbolises movement and progression.

Strokes are vertically structured, echoing ritualistic repetition.

Radical used: 糸 [sī; thread] - symbolises interconnection.

Strokes are mirroring each other, resembling repetition.

Repetitive Asemic Glyphs

Overview

Physical Asemic Calligraphy

Outcome Documentation