A new vision wins the seal of approval
- Source: Global Times
- [14:07 July 08 2010]
- Comments
A part of the Jumping Tiger collection by Myohseki Shimura. Photo: Huang Xi
By Huang Xi
Usually synonymous with "dull" and "boring" for the average Chinese students, the traditional red-and-white art of seal cutting has evolved into a colorful and stylistic art form with the help of Japanese master seal cutter Myohseki Shimura, who is now showcasing his innovations on this ancient Chinese art in Shanghai.
The exhibition features more than 100 works, combining the essence of Western art in genres such as painting, print, installation and graphic design with the traditional Chinese seal cutting. This creative form attracted many young visitors to the opening ceremony of the exhibition at the downtown Shanghai Library.
"The works are impressive, and I never knew seal cutting could be so fashionable," said visitor Zhang Li.
The "contemporary" pieces enchant visitors with a luxurious visual feast. Black and white oil-like stamps are found at the entrance of the showroom. And in front of these stamps, there are square gypsum seals featuring large piercing eyes, a collection entitled Zen Eyes.
As well as traditional Chinese culture, Shimura also shows his love of Chinese characters and the 12 shengxiao (the 12 zodiac animals used to represent lunar years in Chinese mythology). Jumping Tiger is another impressive work, which features some 120 tigers in different colors and poses.
Shimura understands Chinese mythology and can perfectly preserve it in his creations. "This is my 143rd visit to China since 1972," he said. The then Premier Zhou Enlai received him when he visited China with a Japanese youth delegation in 1972.
By renewing the genre of seal cutting with Western art styles, Shimura has extended this ancient genre into a dynamic world of contemporary art. He has enlarged the range of materials used by introducing different types of stones, ceramics, paper and high-tech methods.
But the innovations can also complicate the procedure in making a seal. Making the seal is considered the most fundamental step, but there are many other steps to consider before that step is taken. For example choosing the material and the colors which are both important decisions that will have drastic effects on the outcome.
Seal cutting is popular in Japan, and according to the artist, 5 percent of Japanese calligraphers are also seal cutting enthusiasts. The traditional Chinese art was introduced into Japan in the 17th century and developed its own unique style over the past 300 years.
Compared to the rigorous style in China, Japanese seal cutting is more rugged and expressive, a characteristic which can clearly be seen in the exhibition.
Traditional paintings and calligraphy have hit higher and higher prices at international auctions, but treasures like seal cutting, which originated in China more than 3,000 years ago, have declined over the past few decades.
"Collectors prefer the stones such as tianhuang (yellow field) stone and chicken blood stone rather than the cutting itself," said Li Gangtian, a famous Chinese seal cutting artist.
As the Beijing Olympics used "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing" as its emblem, seal cutting had its chance to gain a little more fame.
But such exposure is far from enough, and the preservation and development of traditional art is in sore need of more grass-roots power to promote it, and Shimura is doing his part.
As well as the exhibition at the Shanghai Library, Shimura is also showcasing other works in the Japan Pavilion at the Expo site.
"I hope my works not only impress adults but encourage younger people and even children to take up the art," the Japanese artist told the Global Times.
Date: Until July 14, 9 am to 5 pm
Venue: Shanghai Library 上海图书馆
Address: 1555 Huaihai Road Middle
淮海中路1555号
Admission: Free
Call 6445-5555 for details
Date: Until October 31, daily
Venue: Japan Pavilion 日本馆
Address: Zone A of the Expo site 世博园A片区
Admission: Free
