An art exhibition featuring seal-cutting and calligraphy by former vice-premier Li Lanqing opened on Thursday at the British Museum.

Titled Contemporary Chinese Seals by Li Lanqing, the exhibition presents 109 seals and two brush-written calligraphy pieces chosen from more than 800 works made by Li in recent years.

Li, a former statesman, is also a scholar and artist. Since retiring in 2003, he has worked to return the traditional practices of seal-carving and calligraphy to their previous popularity.

Li Lanqing, former vice-premier, scholar and artist. [File Photo/China Daily]

"Li is committed to promoting traditional Chinese arts," Fan Di'an, director of the National Art Museum of China, which jointly organized the exhibition, said at a news conference.

The art of seal-cutting dates back more than 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty (16th century-11th century BC) and is listed, along with calligraphy, painting and poetry, as one of the four essential skills required of an ancient scholar.

"Li Lanqing's seals are both traditional and innovative, and shed new light on the vitality of seal-cutting," Fan said.

Fan said Li has made a number of innovations in seal-cutting, expanding the range of content and the style of writing employed.

Li has specially created a seal that reads "The British Museum" in Chinese, and 12 seals for the exhibition that reflect his admiration for British culture and Sino-UK cooperation, Fan said.

These special seals bear the names, translated into Chinese, of famous Britons, including William Shakespeare, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Charlie Chaplin.

The exhibition is divided into four themes - Chinese Seals as Art, Admiration for World Culture, Contemporary China and Celebrating Life.

Jan Stuart, keeper of the Department of Asia at the British Museum, said the exhibition is presented in a gallery that also showcases some of the British Museum's world-famous collection of Chinese art.

It may help people in the West to become interested in Chinese seal-cutting, Chinese ink painting and calligraphy, Stuart added.

She said the exhibition will give people in the West a chance to see some of the special contributions Li has made to contemporary Chinese arts.

The British Museum is the most visited attraction in the UK receiving six million visitors a year. The exhibition will be open until Jan 15.

Li has had solo exhibits of his seal-cutting and calligraphic work in several foreign countries and regions, including Singapore, Russia and France, according to Wang Yingfan, former vice- minister of Foreign Affairs.

Seals have served as emblems of identity and authority in China for thousands of years.

Seals are artistically engraved with Chinese characters or pictures. They are pressed into an oily red paste and then stamped on to documents or artworks.

Fan said seal-cutting is facing challengers, such as how to remain relevant in the modern world, and how to go from being a niche art form into something the general public can enjoy and practice.

Li's seal-cutting could be an answer to these challenges, Fan said.

A book in English, titled Works of Art by Li Lanqing: Chinese Seals and Calligraphy, was also launched on Wednesday in London.

The book, containing pictures and information about all of the exhibits, serves as an important record of the exhibition.

Andrea Rose, director of Visual Arts at the British Council, the UK's cultural relations body, said, the book and exhibition will introduce young people of Britain to China and entice them to learn more about Chinese culture.

In addition to the exhibition and book, a concert, talks, seminars and forums on Chinese seal-cutting, education and economy will be held in the UK to promote Sino-UK exchanges.