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Having previously received the highest honor of the Hsiang Hsi Art Award, Qi Yuan, a doctoral student in the Department of Chinese Literature at Feng Chia University, is presenting “Choosing Not to Settle: Qi Yuan Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibition,” part of the 2026 Taichung Artists Relay Exhibition, at the Huludun Cultural Center in Fengyuan, Taichung, through August 23.
This year, 41 artists submitted applications for the relay exhibition. Following preliminary and final reviews, six artists were selected for exhibition. Drawing on years of dedication to calligraphy and seal engraving, Qi Yuan showcases a diverse collection of works, including Heart Sutra: 52 Block Prints, a project completed over six years. The exhibition vividly demonstrates the integration of traditional seal-carving aesthetics with contemporary design concepts.
Qi Yuan, a doctoral student in the Department of Chinese Literature at Feng Chia University, is presenting “Choosing Not to Settle: Qi Yuan Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibition” at the Huludun Cultural Center in Fengyuan, Taichung, with the exhibition running through August 23.
Originally established in 1988 by the former Taichung County Cultural Center, now the Huludun Cultural Center under the Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Taichung Artists Relay Exhibition has become one of central Taiwan’s longest-running and most influential art exhibitions, having featured 277 artists to date. For this exhibition, Qi Yuan adopts the theme “Choosing Not to Settle,” drawing inspiration not only from classical poetry and prose but also from aphorisms, popular song lyrics, and contemporary expressions. Through calligraphy and seal engraving, he reinterprets the emotional vitality of language.
The exhibition features a wide variety of formats, including multi-panel calligraphy works, couplets, horizontal scrolls, small-format pieces, minimalist calligraphy, and seal-impression displays. By incorporating different ink tones, paper materials, and color compositions, Qi Yuan challenges the conventional perception of calligraphy as a purely black-and-white art form.
Among the exhibition’s signature works is Heart Sutra: 52 Block Prints, a project completed over six years. Using Qingtian stone, Qi meticulously carved the entire Heart Sutra one seal at a time. Through the integration of positive and negative seal carving techniques, red and white seal scripts, and multi-block printing methods, the work documents an artistic journey shaped by patience, perseverance, and the passage of time.
Other featured series include The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Block Prints, which combines seasonal poetry with colors representing the cycle of the four seasons; Eighteen Readings of Wang Yangming, inspired by the philosophy of the unity of knowledge and action; Du Fu’s Eight Autumn Meditations, presented in a twelve-panel cursive script format; and the Truth, Goodness, and Beauty series, which incorporates colored ink design. Together, these works demonstrate Qi Yuan’s distinctive artistic style, blending calligraphy and seal engraving while drawing inspiration from tradition and innovation alike.
Having devoted many years to the study and practice of calligraphy and seal engraving, Qi Yuan also hopes to encourage Feng Chia University students who are passionate about the arts. He noted that the rigorous textual training provided by the Department of Chinese Literature serves as an essential foundation for artistic creation, emphasizing that mastery of character structure, calligraphic aesthetics, and cultural literacy requires long-term cultivation. He encourages students to seize opportunities during their university years to practice diligently, participate in competitions and exhibitions, and gradually develop their own artistic voice.
A seal-engraving workshop will be held on August 23 as part of Choosing Not to Settle: Qi Yuan Calligraphy and Seal Engraving Exhibition, welcoming visitors to experience firsthand the artistry of carved seals and ink on paper, and to explore the humanistic spirit embedded in Chinese character culture.
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