The First Women Engravers Exhibition, at the Art Museum of Shiyan, Hubei province, focuses on an overlooked area, the rise of women artists dedicated to carrying on the seal engraving tradition.
Very few women artists of the category living in ancient times are found in historical documents. It was practically, like other fields of art, dominated by men.
The ongoing exhibition until May 8 sheds light on the consistent efforts of modern women carvers to keep alive the unique art as an integral part of classic Chinese art.
Seal engravers work closely with painters and calligraphers who commission finely carved seals for use. Sometimes they themselves are excellent seal artists.
In a small space that is the seal of a finger, artists not only engrave characters and patterns with dexterity, but also imbue each carving with cultural lineage.
