The exhibition is being held in the Yuyao Public Culture Service Center.
Following the chronicle of Wang Yangming's life, 100 seals, 100 purple clay teapots, 100 inkstones, and 250 rubbing works are displayed in the three exhibition halls, embodying his classic quotes, stories, and poems of Yangmingism. The event is to commemorate the 550th anniversary of Wang Yangming’s birth.
On November 21, an exhibition of Ruan Jie’s seal carvings, pot inscriptions, and inkstone inscriptions was formally unveiled in the exhibition hall of Yuyao Public Culture Service Center to honor the 550th anniversary of Wang Yangming’s birth. Two days later, the World Conference on Yangmingism was also held successfully in Yuyao, Ningbo.
Ruan Jie is a member of the Chinese Calligraphers Association (CCA) and the deputy director of the Seal Carving Committee of the Ningbo Calligraphers Association. Over the course of five years, he created over 100 seals, 100 purple clay teapots, 100 inkstones, and 300 rubbing works – 550 of which were selected for the exhibition.
The artworks – including seals, seals printing, pot inscriptions, inkstone inscriptions, and full-scale rubbings – are displayed in five sections. Through the creation and exhibition, Ruan demonstrates the five phases of Wang Yangming’s life, namely, "Learning from past sages", "Enlightened at Longchang", "Calming riots and rebellions", "Uniting knowledge and action, establishing Yangmingism", and "A fair and honest sage".
Speaking of the creation inspirations, Ruan revealed to Ningbo Evening News: "At the beginning of 2018, I participated in a seal carving event honoring Wang Yangming. It was the pot with the inscription 'Attaining Knowledge of Goodness' that prompted me to embody Yangmingism on seals, inkstones, and pots."
Captivated by Wang's life course and philosophy, Ruan spent a significant amount of time selecting over 400 creation elements among a myriad of classics about Yangming for his own craft.
Chen Zhenlian, vice chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and deputy director of the Xiling Seal Art Society, sent a congratulatory letter to Ruan, noting that selecting aphorisms among Wang Yangming’s voluminous ancient literary works and connecting them in series is quite challenging. This is a rigorous thematic creation, as well as a powerful promotion of Wang Yangming’s philosophy and thoughts.
After the opening ceremony, Yuan Zhijian, a member of the China Literature and Art Critics Association (CLACA) and president and editor-in-chief of the Ningbo Publishing House, shared with the journalist that the exhibits are dynamic and incorporate various styles and fonts, especially in the unique seal carving techniques. Ruan's perseverance and pursuit of art are evident in the quality and creativity of the art exhibits. It is worthwhile to come and pay a visit.