A selection of Woodcut Chinese Seals & Calligraphy by Terry (Tseng-Yao) Sun will be opened to the public at the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center on May 27, 2023.

Seal carving is a unique form of fine art appreciated and valued by artists and collectors in East Asian Culture. In the 1980s, Mr. Terry Sun developed a technique of enlarging seal designs and carving them into wood, making a traditionally arcane and diminutive art form more accessible to the general public. Terry’s accompanying calligraphy also complements the beauty and meaning of the seals.

Mr. Sun’s seal carving came from the tradition of leisure seal, which refers to a type of seal that goes beyond personal names, studio names, official titles, or collection seals. It evolved from the auspicious language seals during the Qin and Han dynasties. In addition to engraving auspicious words, leisure seals often feature poems, proverbs, or self-reflective phrases.
Leisure seals have become an integral part of Chinese calligraphy and painting. The content of leisure seals is diverse and brimming with creativity. Artists either create their own phrases or select famous sayings and admonitions to be engraved on the seals, expressing their insights into life and art. Hence the saying, "Leisure seals are never idle."
According to Terry’s wife Teresa, Mr. Sun dedicated most of his retirement time to studying calligraphy and leisure seal engraving, aside from his travels. He carefully selected and collected nearly 200 rare and out-of-print books as references for his work. Over a span of 15 years, he completed around 130 pieces, each accompanied by a detailed English translation. These efforts ensured that all could appreciate the profound artistic concepts embedded within his creations.

There’s no tax involved in cultivating the field of knowledge for the generations to come. (Father told me this when I was young. I couldn’t fathom the meaning of these words early enough. Now I am at a ripe old age, regretting it is too late. ) Woodcutting & Calligraphy by Tseng-Yao Sun, 2001	Nature always moves with vigor. A man of virtue exerts and strives continuously. Original seal carved by Qi Bai-Shi Seal carving & calligraphy by Tseng-Yao Sun, 2003	The moon seemed brighter back home. Seal carving & calligraphy by Tseng-Yao Sun, 1996	Wishing people can live a long time And share the beautiful moon while a thousand miles apart. Poem by Su Shih Seal carving & calligraphy by Tseng-Yao Sun, 1996

書法家孫曾堯先生作品「優雅的中國圖章與書法」，將於5月27日在南海岸中華文化中心展出，這批作品結合書法與木雕閑章，以創新方式展現出迷人的書法藝術。
五年前去世的孫曾堯先生，自幼隨其父學習書法，擔任機械工程師近40年退休後，開始全心投入研習書法及篆刻，有鑑於中國傳統的閑章充滿哲思與美感，孫曾堯自創以木板雕刻技法，放大圖章上的文字，再配以書法，形成獨創的藝術作品。
閑章，是指姓名、齋號、職官、鑒藏印等以外的印章。它是從秦漢時的吉語印演變而來，除刻吉語外，還常刻詩句、格言、自戒之詞等。
到了近代，閑章便發展成為中國書畫藝術不可或缺的部分。閑章的內容也十分廣泛，並且意趣盎然，書畫家或自擬詞句，或擷取格言、警句於印章，以示對人生和藝術的感悟，故有「閑章不閑」之說。
孫曾堯先生的遺孀王積青女士說，孫曾堯退休後除了旅行之外，大多數的時間都投入研習書法及閑章篆刻中，他精選、收集了近200本絕版珍本作參考，以15年完成約130件作品，每件作品並配有詳細的英文說明，不論中外人士都能了解作品中所蘊涵的意境。