The Charm of Woodcut Chinese Seals and Calligraphy by Tseng-Yao Sun April 23, 2011

The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is pleased to present a new exhibit, The Charm of Woodcut Chinese Seals and Calligraphy by Tseng-Yao Sun優雅的中國木刻圖章與書法.

Until recently, intricate seals carved with a person’s name in ancient script served as identification for nearly everyone in China and Japan. For centuries, artists have used these seals to authenticate paintings and calligraphy, and the emperor’s seal once conveyed absolute authority. Today, leisure seals still add decoration to artwork and are enjoyed as works of art in their own right, imbued with profound meaning.

In the 1980s, Tseng-Yao (Terry) Sun 孫曾堯 developed a technique of enlarging seal designs and carving them into wood, making a traditionally arcane and diminutive art more accessible to the general public. Terry’s accompanying calligraphy also emphasizes the beauty and meaning of the seals. His work has been exhibited in the Rübel Asiatic Research Collection, Fine Art Library; Arthur M. Sackler Museum at Harvard University, the Gallery of Palos Verdes Library and the East Asian Library at the University of Southern California.
The exhibit opening will be held in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Extension building at 328 J Street on Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Refreshments will be served at the reception held in the Chinese garden at 404 Third Avenue. Admission is $2 and free for members and children under 12.
The San Diego Chinese Historical Museum is located at 404 Third Avenue in downtown San Diego. For more information, please visit our website at www.sdchm.org.

Official Website: http://www.sdchm.org