Graphic seals bridge global cultures

Guests explore Ningbo's graphic seal artworks at the exhibition. [Photo/Yongpai app]

A seal carving exhibition from Ningbo was showcased in Geneva on June 8 during the United Nations International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, presenting a contemporary interpretation of global cultural exchange through traditional Chinese art.

The exhibition reimagines cultural symbols from all 193 UN member states through graphic seal engraving, turning them into simplified visual forms designed for immediate understanding across language barriers.

At its center is a 30-meter scroll featuring 193 individual seal impressions, each representing a country, alongside selected works that together form a visual map of global cultures expressed through the medium of seal carving. Recognizable motifs such as kangaroos, Greek temples, mermaids, and other national cultural symbols are distilled into bold graphic compositions, allowing audiences from a variety of backgrounds to intuitively identify them.

One section of the exhibition highlights works inspired by the Year of the Horse, ranging from traditional interpretations to more playful visual styles. One featured piece, presented as a cultural gift, combines imagery of doves and handshakes to convey ideas of peace, dialogue, and connection. 

The project originated in Ningbo in 2021 as a long-term initiative, and has since evolved into an international collaboration involving thousands of artists and exhibitions across multiple countries and global platforms, including the Osaka World Expo and other international events. It aims to extend seal carving beyond written language, turning it into a modern visual system for cross-cultural communication.