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Taiwanese Calligrapher Tong Yang-Tze Transforms The Met’s Great Hall with Monumental Installation

  • Date:2024-11-08

Portrait of Tong Yang-Tze © At Ease Studio Limited. Photo by Te-Fan Wang


The Great Hall Commission: Tong Yang-Tze, Dialogue, a major exhibition showcasing Taiwan’s revered calligrapher Tong Yang-Tze, opens at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on November 21. Dialogue marks a significant milestone as Tong Yang-Tze’s first major U.S. exhibition. Her powerful calligraphy and evocative brushstrokes will transform The Met’s iconic Great Hall into a space of dynamic conversation between tradition and modernity. 

Tong’s artistry is deeply rooted in her lifelong dedication to calligraphy, a practice she began during her childhood in Taiwan. Her work reveals contemporary vigor within ancient scriptural traditions, with large-scale, expressive compositions that invite viewers into a world where language flows as movement and characters carry the weight of history and personal vision. Moving beyond the page, her calligraphy transforms spaces into sites of introspection and wonder.

In Dialogue, Tong reimagines calligraphy on an architectural scale, inviting audiences into a visual and spatial exchange. As visitors enter The Met’s Great Hall, they encounter Tong’s sweeping, immersive panels that rise to the hall’s dramatic scale. This installation redefines calligraphy as a living, breathing form that harmonizes with the space, allowing viewers to experience the energy and emotion of each brushstroke. Tong’s work creates a fresh conversation around Taiwanese culture and heritage, viewed through the lens of contemporary art.

To further explore her creative journey, visitors are invited to An Evening with Tong Yang-Tze—a rare opportunity to hear directly from the artist about her practice, inspiration, and her journey to this historic New York exhibition. This intimate conversation will delve into her artistic process and explore how she has redefined calligraphy for a global audience. For art, culture, and language enthusiasts, it is a unique occasion to experience the transformative power of calligraphy and meet one of Taiwan’s most celebrated artists.

This exhibition is proudly supported by the Taipei Cultural Center in New York of the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan, as part of our ongoing mission to share Taiwan’s vibrant cultural heritage with audiences worldwide. We warmly invite you to experience this unforgettable installation and the profound artistry of Tong Yang-Tze.

For more details, please visit: The Great Hall Commission: Tong Yang-Tze, Dialogue.



Exhibition Details:

The Great Hall Commission: Tong Yang-Tze, Dialogue

Date: November 21, 2024 to April 8, 2025

Hours: Sunday–Tuesday and Thursday: 10 am–5 pm

            Friday and Saturday: 10 am–9 pm

            Closed: Wednesday, Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1

Location: The Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, 82nd Street, New York, NY, 10028)


An Evening with Artist Tong Yang-Tze 

Date and Time: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 6:30–7:30 pm

Location: The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at the Met Fifth Avenue

Register: https://engage.metmuseum.org/events/education/talks/public-programs/grr/fy25/an-evening-with-artist-tong-yang-tze/