"Cultural exchange is a crucial driving force for human development. Between the East and the West, especially in recent times, significant cultural exchanges have taken place, fostering mutual understanding and broadening people's imagination and cognition of the world. Differences often serve not as barriers but as complements, promoting the development of their own cultures.
Taking the two major art schools in the 19th and 20th centuries as examples, I hope to showcase the mutual borrowing and fusion between the East and the West in cultural arts. Through this lecture, I wish you'll get some insights and can better understand the cultural environment we inhabit, appreciate our cultural identity, comprehend the possibilities of East-West fusion, and ultimately grasp the true meaning of cultural exchange."
— Dong Qiang at Dishui Lake
On November 23rd, 2023, the fourth lecture of the Peking University Dishui Lake Lecture Hall (PKU-DSLLH) was successfully held. Professor Dong Qiang, Dean of Yanching Academy of Peking University was invited to deliver a special lecture on the topic From Impressionism to Abstractionism: Attempts and Achievements in the Fusion of Chinese and Western Art in the 19th and 20th Centuries （《从印象派到抽象主义——论19、20世纪中西艺术交融的尝试与成就》）.
During the lecture, Professor Dong Qiang enriched the audience's understanding of the pre-19th-century cultural exchanges between China and the West by showcasing a diverse range of artworks, sharing intriguing personal experiences, and providing detailed explanations with abundant historical materials. He focused on Impressionism with Monet and Van Gogh as its core, elaborated on the artistic trends and development processes from Impressionism to Abstractionism, and delved into the collision, mutual learning, and integration of Eastern and Western art during the 19th and 20th centuries, covering artists from Constantin Brâncuși to Isamu Noguchi, Zhao Wuji, and Henri Michaux.
During the Q&A session, Professor Dong Qiang engaged in lively interactions with the audience regarding questions about "What are the new changes and characteristics of the integration of Chinese and Western art in contemporary times?" He also shared his own experiences in translation and recommended his own translations to the audience, creating a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere of interaction.
A total of more than 300 people participated in this event, including the Department of Party-People Affaris, Lin-gang Special Area Administration (LSAA), Peking University Shanghai Lin-gang International Science and Technology Innovation Center (PKU-IICSH), as well as representatives from Peking University Alumni Association, students from universities in the special area, and online registered participants.
Before the lecture, Wu Xiaohua, Deputy-secretary of the Party Working Committee of Lin-gang Special Area met with Professor Dong Qiang, and presented him with a commemorative plaque as the fourth lecturer of PKU-DSLLH.
On the afternoon of November 23rd, Professor Dong Qiang conducted on-site inspections at PKU-IICSH and provided guidance on the center's development.
Initiated with the support of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Speacial Area Administration (hereinafter referred to as Lin-gang Special Area, or LSAA), Peking University Dishui Lake Lecture Hall (PKU-DSLLH) is a collaborative effort involving Peking University Intertional Innovational Center, Lin-gang Special Area, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (PKU-IICSH), Peking University Office of Science and Technology Development, and Office of Humanities and Social Science, and enjoying an active participation from Peking University Press, Peking University Alumni Association, and other relevant offices and departments. Leveraging Peking University's profound academic foundation and expert resources in the humanities and social sciences, PKU-DSLLH focuses on key areas including economic development, humanities and arts, and social governance.
Since August 2023, PKU-DSLLH has been hosting monthly lectures featuring renowned professors or expert scholars from Peking University, who provide specialized lectures and engage in in-depth discussions with residents in Lin-gang. This initiative aims to facilitate the concentration of high-quality humanities and social science resources from Peking University in Lingang, effectively enhancing the cultural image and urban competitiveness of the Lin-gang Special Area.
