shufagraphy

shufagraphy #4 FREEDOM

The pair of characters used to translate the concept of “freedom” actually has more precise connotations in Chinese: 自由 can be interpreted as 由 “acting on behalf/setting forth/being the origin” in 自 “oneself”, e.g. one is free when one’s decisions and actions are coming from oneself. But 自 “self” can be our biggest prison or limiting factor, hence I added the bars. All other connotations I leave to the liberty of the viewer.

shufagraphy

shufagraphy #3 HAVE MONEY

The concept of “to have” in Chinese is expressed with the character 有. In Cantonese, there is also 冇 which means “not to have”. I placed 金 — “gold/money” into either 有 or 冇 and only the viewer can say if that means “having money” or “not having money”. Duality has always played an important role in the Chinese worldview.