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Opening Ceremony | "Time-honored Xiling Society ? Enduring Charm of the Central Plains — Exhibition of Seal Engraving Art" Kicks off in the Zhengzhou New Art Museum on October 25

Zhengzhou New Art Museum will open on October 25. As one of the highlights of the inaugural exhibition of Zhengzhou New Art Museum, the "Time-honored Xiling Society·Enduring Charm of the Central Plains - Exhibition of Seal Engraving Art" will kick off, and people will have the access to the traditional seal engraving culture in the museum.

The exhibition is co-sponsored by Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society, the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhengzhou Municipal Committee, and Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, TV and Tourism, and undertaken by Hangzhou China Science Museum of Printing, Zhengzhou Art Museum (Zhengzhou Academy of Painting) and Henan Seal Art Association. It is divided into three parts: "Selected Collection of Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society", "A Leisurely Stroll in the Garden - Exhibition of Calligraphy Works by Li Gangtian", and "Collection of Ancient Seals and Sealed Clay from Henan Seal Art Association".

The selected collection of Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society, contemporary calligraphy works by Li Gangtian, and the collection of ancient seals from Henan Seal Art Association are connected while being displayed independently: ancient seals provide an important historical basis for studying the seal system and craft tradition in the Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty, Warring States period, Qin and Han dynasties and later, and the exhibition of Henan Seal Art Association will introduce the root of classical seals; Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society, the first society in the world, engages in classical art exploration as a modern organization. It advocates the freedom and diversity of creation, and the integration of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seals to comprehensively demonstrate the outstanding achievements of seal engraving art. Li Gangtian, Deputy Director of Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society, is deeply influenced by the culture of the Central Plains. During his calligraphy creation, he shows not only solid traditional learning but also the contemporary thinking on promoting the self, representing a new horizon of artistic creation.

Founded in 1904, Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society is the oldest existing civil society in China, as well as the first professional seal engraving academic society in history. Over more than one hundred years, Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society has been committed to preserving seals, studying seals and collecting painting and calligraphy works, and has gathered a wide host of outstanding artists devoting themselves to the study of modern literature, history, and art.  The forthcoming "Selected Collection of Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society" will last until February 28, 2021. It covers the painting and calligraphy works of the four founders of the Society, former directors and deputy directors and well-known members, and the collection of seals by Hong Yi (Li Shutong), fully reproducing the 100-year development history of the Society. As a golden card of Hangzhou's history and culture, Xiling Seal Engraver’s Society features mild elite culture, which is in contrast with the profound culture of the Central Plains of Henan, thus promoting the cultural exchanges between the north and the south, further inheriting the historical context of the Northern and Southern Song dynasties, and carrying forward the excellent traditional culture of China.

"A Leisurely Stroll in the Garden - Exhibition of Calligraphy Works by Li Gangtian" will display more than 60 calligraphy works donated by Mr. Li Gangtian to Zhengzhou New Art Museum. These works boast the rich content and diversified calligraphy styles, following the cultural heritage of sages while reflecting upon the times. The exhibition lasts until February 28, 2021.

"The Collection of Ancient Seals and Sealed Clay from Henan Seal Art Association" will be exhibited from October 25 to December 26, 2020, at the 6th exhibition hall of Zhengzhou New Art Museum. The Central Plains is the most important region for creating precious calligraphy works and seal engraving art in history, and a host of famous artists emerge from here. More than 200 ancient seals and sealed clay to be exhibited are all treasures, with highest academic research value. With 1,000 years of history since the Shang Dynasty, ancient seals provide an important reference for the study of history, characters and official systems, and also have a far-reaching influence on later calligraphy and seal engraving art creation.

 

Copyright by Zhengzhou Municipal Tourism Administration