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Fast and Slow Studios
Interested in trying out a Calligraphy Class in Taipei? Whether you’re drawn to traditional Chinese calligraphy or a modern approach with full-body movement, Fast and Slow Studios focuses on the flow of body movement and the ink brush. Every press, lift, turn, and loop is paired with shifts in speed, strength, and breath, like a dance where each movement tells a story. Students are encouraged to find their own rhythm and style, reflecting the balance of fast and slow that inspired the studio’s name. Offerings include Calligraphy in Movement, traditional Chinese calligraphy, DIY ink brush and ink stick making (available starting August), ink painting, and a guided drawing tour at the National Palace Museum.
I’ve partnered with Fast and Slow Studios to bring you more information that may be helpful for families like yours who are seeking cultural experiences in Taipei. This is not a paid/sponsored post, and I do not earn a commission.
Exclusive Discount
Mention my blog, Mama & Baby Learn Mandarin, and get 10% off when you book a workshop for 6 participants.
Calligraphy in Movement Classes
Two years ago, Fast and Slow Studios began hosting experimental Calligraphy in Movement workshops. Each session starts with gentle breathwork and somatic movement to help participants connect with their bodies. From there, participants explore how cursive calligraphy and dance share a rhythm and flow. By the end, everyone is moving freely across a paper-covered dance floor, creating gestural calligraphy and expressive brushstrokes through intuitive movement. It’s messy, freeing, and so much fun.
Traditional Calligraphy Classes
Calligraphy is one of the oldest forms of writing and art in the world. Traditional Chinese calligraphy has a long and fascinating history, starting as far back as the Neolithic period. Its characters are pictographic, and the use of brush and ink allows artists to show the beauty of each stroke, reflecting the rhythm of both body and mind. Fast and Slow Studio’s traditional calligraphy workshop is for beginners or those with no experience at all. You will learn about the tools, practice basic brushstrokes, and explore the structure and beauty of traditional Chinese characters. By the end, you will be able to write simple characters and gain an understanding of the different calligraphy styles used throughout history.
DIY Ink Brush Class with Taiwan Master Craftsman
Learn the art of ink brush making from Master Chen Yao-Wen (陳耀文), a true living legend of Taiwanese craftsmanship. Featured in the Taipei Times and Taiwan Today, Master Chen has been making brushes by hand for over 60 years, a skill passed down in his family since the Japanese colonial period, when ink brushes were the primary writing tool, and doctors used them to write prescriptions. All of his handmade brushes use bamboo that he grows in the mountains of New Taipei. Bamboo grows at different thicknesses depending on the altitude. Some brush makers purposely grow bamboo at lower altitudes so it has a smaller diameter, which is ideal for making brush handles.
A Lifetime of Learning
Master Chen has traveled around the world to find different kinds of animal hair for making brushes. He has collected panda fur, goat hair from restaurants, weasel hair, rabbit fur, cow ear hair, feathers, and more. Some brushes are made with a special kind of wild rabbit hair that has a purple shine. Other brush tips use plant fibers, like reed, which make the brush soft but strong. Learning about animal hair and plant fibers can take a lifetime. His expertise has made him a special consultant for the National Palace Museum, where he once spent three years replicating an imperial brush handle from Emperor Kangxi’s collection using ancient carving, lacquer, and shell inlay techniques.
In this hands-on class, Master Chen will guide you step by step in creating your own ink brush, sharing the secrets behind every detail from shaping the fibers to tying them into the brush tip. Learning from him is not just about making a brush; it is about experiencing the heart, patience, and history behind a craft that has stood the test of time.
About Elena, Founder of Fast and Slow Studios
Born in Taiwan and raised in Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru, Elana Wang learned traditional Chinese calligraphy at an early age, fascinated by how variations in energy and personality can be transmitted through a single brushstroke. Her work explores the intersection between calligraphy, dance, and painting. In 2021, her calligraphic painting, “Running Fast and Slow,” was selected as a finalist for the Taoyuan International Art Award.
Elena’s work has recently been exhibited at Taoyuan Museum of Fine Art, Galerie Loire, and Théâtre Le Dôme in France. WANG holds an M.F.A. (D.N.S.E.P.) from the School of Art and Design TALM (2022) with congratulations from the jury. She currently teaches a traditional Chinese Calligraphy Class in Taipei and develops experimental dance painting workshops that explore the intersection of calligraphy, painting, and dance.
How to Book a Class
Half-day or full-day workshops available. All classes and workshops are by appointment only on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. To book a session, please get in touch with Fast and Slow Studios using one of the contact options below.
Email: fastandslowstudio@gmail.com
Phone: (+886) 978083782
Instagram: @fastandslowstudios
Address: Fast and Slow Studios, 10F, No. 45, Sec. 1, Hankou St., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei
Don’t forget! Mention my blog, Mama & Baby Learn Mandarin, to get 10% off when you book a workshop for a group of 6 participants.
