News Center

Li Lanqing's seal-cutting impressive to UNESCO head

Source: Xinhuanet  [2009-11-05 14:44:33]
The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was enchanted by former Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing's seal-cutting exhibition on Wednesday.

UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura made this comment while he was paying a visit to the exhibition at the Chinese Culture Center in Paris.

Roaming the aisle where seal-cutting works and introduction pictures were displayed, Matsuura frequently stopped to pore over every Chinese character that looked familiar to him. He also discussed the similarity between Chinese and Japanese writings with his companions.

After leaving a note in Japanese which called the exhibit "magnificent," Matsuura told Xinhua that the display was very impressive.

He added that it was "incredible" for Li to have made such great and numerous achievements in art - Li has produced over 400 pieces of seal cuttings in just five years.

The exhibition, co-organized by the Chinese Culture Ministry and the Chinese embassy in France, opened on Oct. 9 and runs through Nov. 14. More than 270 seals made by Li are on display.

Seal-cutting, or 'Zhuanke' in Chinese, is a traditional art form that combines calligraphy and carving.

This art form, which dates back more than 3,000 years to the Yin Dynasty, is one of the four essential skills required of an ancient Chinese scholar, along with calligraphy, painting and poetry.

Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin visited Li's exhibition on Monday.

  Photo Gallery