Bending the structural rules
Graffiti artist balances street writing with traditional calligraphy in his newly released Chinese typeface, in which he sees a future in cultural collaborations, Li Yingxue reports.
By Li Yingxue | China Daily | Updated: 2026-07-23 07:44
For Xu, this shared sense of movement connects the two traditions. Graffiti may be associated with rebellion and freestyle, but at its core is the creation of a distinctive personal writing style. Chinese calligraphy likewise reflects the personality and rhythm of the writer.
One evolved on paper; the other found its expression on walls and in public spaces.
ABS Street Ink is designed for visually driven applications rather than long passages of text. Xing expects it to appear in fashion branding, music festivals, posters, street culture packaging, film and television titles, esports, and digital media.
In these contexts, typography is not meant to disappear. Instead, it establishes visual identity and emotional tone.
"The fact that this typeface serves a niche audience is precisely what can make it central to a particular field," Xing says.
Common Chinese text typefaces, including Song-style and sans-serif designs, dominate long-form reading because they allow readers to focus on information rather than form. Display typefaces like ABS Street Ink serve a different purpose: to attract attention and carry cultural meaning.
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