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Crossing Boundaries: The Calligraphic Art of Manny Ling

Dr Manny Ling is a calligrapher, designer and educator. He is the Programme Leader for MA Design and Senior Lecturer in Design at the University of Sunderland, UK. He specialises in calligraphy, lettering, typographic design, and editorial design. He has responsibilities as Director of Studies for PhD research in Design and he is also the Director for the International Research Centre for Calligraphy (IRCC) at the University.

He is a world-renowned western calligrapher and has exhibited in many solo and group shows in the UK, Japan, France, Finland, Norway and Australia. His work is also showcased in many major publications. He was bestowed with a Honorary Fellowship from the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society (UK) in 2011 for his important contribution to the development of Western Calligraphy. He also won the Student-led Teaching Awards ‘Most Inspirational Lecturer’ in 2013.

He completed his PhD research in 2008 with emphasis on the integration of East Asian and Western cultural influences upon Western calligraphy. He is also interested in the impact of digital media has upon this traditional art form.

Dr Manny Ling was born in Hong Kong and moved to England when he was ten years old. Being a Chinese person practising Western art and design has had a profound influence on his life. He is fascinated by the theme of ‘crossing boundaries’ in his work: the Handmade and Digital, East and West, Old and New, Energy and Stillness, Simplicity and Complexity, Control and Spontaneity.

Dr Manny Ling
PhD ‘Calligraphy Across Boundaries’
MA Design and BA (Hons) Design (First Class Honours)
HFCLAS (Honorary Fellow of Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society), UK
Honorary member of Letter Exchange, UK
Honorary member of Typographic Circle, UK