Echoes of Stone and Ink in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Echoes of Stone and Ink in the Ming and Qing Dynasties explores the cultural development of Chinese seal carving in Suzhou and Hangzhou during the Ming and Qing periods. Inspired by Wu School literati culture, the work reimagines scholars exchanging calligraphy, painting, poetry, and seal carving within bustling streets, gardens, workshops, and marketplaces.

The artwork depicts an artist and seal carver, Wen Peng (文彭), who discovered Qingtian stone (青田石) in the marketplace. At the time, seal carving was largely associated with imperial authority and commonly made from jade and metal. In contrast, Qingtian stone was softer and more affordable, making seal carving more accessible to literati artists. This gradually transformed seal carving from an imperial craft into a more widely practiced and personal art form, commonly applied to paintings, ceramics, and artistic inscriptions.

Through architectural and everyday scenes, the work reflects on craftsmanship, material culture, trade, and the evolution of Chinese literati seal carving traditions.

《明清石與墨的迴響》探索中國篆刻藝術於明清時期在蘇州與杭州的文化發展。作品受吳門文人文化啟發，重新想像文人雅士於繁華街道、園林、工坊與市集中交流書法、繪畫、詩詞與篆刻藝術的場景。

畫中描繪篆刻家文彭於市集中發現青田石。在當時，篆刻多為皇室與權力的象徵，常使用玉石與金屬製作。相比之下，青田石質地柔軟且價格親民，使篆刻藝術更容易被文人接觸與創作，並逐漸由皇室工藝轉化為普及的個人藝術形式，廣泛應用於書畫、陶瓷及各類藝術題款之中。

畫面透過建築與日常生活場景，反思工藝、物料文化、貿易，以及中國文人篆刻藝術的演變與發展。