In "Crossover: Contemporary Korean Calligraphy," an Aug. 29-Oct. 1 CSUN Art Galleries exhibition curated by Moon and CSUN librarian Jina Wakimoto, the role of Korean calligraphy and contemporary graphics will be explored in the works of three contemporary Korean artists: 'Manhodang' Kim Soo-Hyoung, 'Hanong' Kim Sun-Wuk and Choi In-young.

"Calligraphy has long been considered the highest form of art in Korea as well as in China," said Wakimoto, artist 'Manhodang's' daughter. "I thought it would be interesting to showcase (its) development from traditional to contemporary."

Wakimoto said the art form can be compared to performance art. "One can almost imagine the pace, slow and fast, the force and tension to produce thick and thin lines, and the rhythmic movement with which the artist produced the work."

'Manhodang' works with grass script in traditional calligraphy and 'Hanong' perceives contemporary calligraphy as performance art, "not necessarily reliant on the textual meaning." Both, said Moon, "push the boundaries of traditional calligraphy, using it not just on a scroll, but with other media and with fabric that traditional calligraphers would not have used."

Choi, Moon said, "has been able to break down the core of the language to its essential components in simple geometric forms, and have it still understood." The award-winning artist served as temporary artist-in-residence for a two-week workshop hosted in August by the Art Department for CSUN students and 14 students from Hanyang University in Seoul.

Together, the three artists "showcase a unique blending of the old and the new, the triangular effect of the east coast, the west coast and Korea," Moon said.

"Crossover" features the most recent works of the artists, including experimental pieces created specifically for the exhibition. "We hope the public understands that different cultures have different ways of communicating, that communication becomes a work of art, that the written language bears with it a tremendous historical point of view," said Moon.

Funded in part by the Korean Cultural Center, the exhibition will feature a performance by the Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy at its opening reception at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10.

Gallery hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information about the exhibit, call the Art Galleries at (818) 677-2156 or visit their Web site at www.csun.edu/artgalleries/. The Galleries will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5.