INK STICK

A novice takes on an artisanal trade

An episode from the series ARTISANS REBOOT

Synopsis

Chinese call the brush, paper, ink stick and ink-stone the 4 treasures. They are not just mere stationery but highly desired art objects. To the uninitiated though, it’s hard to tell the difference.

For the last 50 years, Master Chen Jia De has been engulfed in the black art of producing what many acknowledge as extremely high-quality ink.

Lim Chiew Eng, an art teacher, practices calligraphy with passion. When presented with the chance of reviving this artisanal craft, she takes flight all the way to Taiwan.