View this work in its entirety during Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy (at the Asian Art Museum from October 5, 2012–January 13, 2013). The Character of Characters, 2012, by Xu Bing (Chinese, born 1955). Five-channel video animation installation. Acquisition made possible by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, R2012.54.

Grade Levels

College and Beyond, Elementary School (4-5), High School (9-12), Middle School (6-8)
Regions

China, The Diaspora
Academic Topics

Looking at Art
Academic Subjects

Visual Arts, World Languages

Related Resources

Activity

Create a Color Trip Collage

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Plant your own Past Continuous Tense Forest

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Create an Abstract Dreamscape

In this activity, you will create an art piece inspired by the work of Bernice Bing.

GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary School (K-3), Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

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Activity

Calligraphic Creations

In this activity, you will explore Bernice Bing’s use of calligraphy in her paintings and then create your own!

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

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Activity

Design Your Personal Cloak

GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary School (K-3), Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Make an Identity Accordion-Zine

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School (4-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Pen a Pantoum

Learn about the form of poetry called the pantoum and then write one of your own!

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

Activity

Ancient China: Design Your Own Bronze Vessel

If you were to design a bronze vessel for a friend who has done something important for you, what shape would you make it? How would you decorate it? Would you use designs like the ones on the bronze vessels in the museum? What would you inscribe on it?

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12)

https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Bronze_Vessel_Rhino-600x450.png 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Bronze_Vessel_Rhino-1200x900.png 2x

Background Information

Slow Down Fast Fashion

Tips and resources to inspire sustainable and slow fashion consumption.

GRADE LEVEL: Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12), College and Beyond

https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/12/Garment_factory_in_Bangladesh_Women_working-600x450.jpeg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/12/Garment_factory_in_Bangladesh_Women_working-1200x900.jpeg 2x

Activity

Reflection: I was, I am, I will be

How would you answer Chanel Miller’s “I was, I am, I will be” prompt? Would your answers look like Miller’s, or would they look different?

GRADE LEVEL: High School (9-12), College and Beyond

https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Chanel_Miller_Gallery-600x450.jpg 1x, https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/10/Chanel_Miller_Gallery-1200x900.jpg 2x