Sensing The Tao Through A Seal

Description

Sensing The Tao Through A Seal: Xiao Runze’s Seal Artistry presents a collection of the seal carving work of Xiao Runze,

The seal mark is one of the most characteristic aspects of traditional Chinese art, but the ubiquity of these stamps adorning great paintings or works of calligraphy often leads us to overlook their inherent artistry. Xiao Runze’s wonderful book reorients our gaze to these intricate miniatures and showcases the art and craft of the seal.

Mr Xiao demonstrates a mastery of the form that comes from a lifetime of study and practice. He has produced seals which are themselves exquisite artworks, models of composition and balance. The pieces in this book show him working both within the tradition of seal carving and presenting his own creative innovations. He showcases figurative techniques that recall temple sculpture, and a variety of calligraphic styles that reach back to the oracle bones of the Shang dynasty, the very roots of Chinese script. The textual possibilities of the seal are an important dimension to this artform: the seal may proclaim an explicit meaning. The writings on which he draws reference Daoist and Buddhist thought, and the work throughout is executed with the highest levels of craftsmanship.

The seal prints in this book are crisply reproduced at full scale, allowing us a clear view of all their details and reminding us of the precision and control needed to carve them. The collection is a great achievement, and represents an admirable summary of Mr Xiao’s career.

ISBN: 978-1-0685761-1-9