Eastern Spirit Western World--A Profile of Diana Kan

Duration: 30

Year Published: 1990

Creator: Daria Sommers

Format: 16mm

Color: Color

Description: Featuring sequences of the artist at work at her studio, recounts the major influences in Diana Kan's creative life. She describes both her childhood in China, where her father tutored her in the art of calligraphy, and her artistic apprenticeship with the legendary Chang Dai Chen, who encouraged her to explore the world of Western art. With her remarkable "dancing brush" and calligraphic line, the artist demonstrates how nature's forms are used to express an ancient philosophy that has relevance in contemporary life. At the heart of Miss Kan's story is the very personal journey of an artist whose life and work exemplify a link between the past and present, and between different cultures that can enhance and strengthen each other through their differences.