The Quest for Truth in the Idea of the Garden: China Garden Cultural Contemporary Art International Tour Exhibition

Schedule of Related Events

Seminar: Thursday, May 29, 10:00 - 11:30am
Opening reception: Thursday, May 29, 11:30am - 12:30pm
Workshop: Thursday, May 29, 11:30am - 1:00pm; Sunday June 1, 1:30 - 3:30pm

Exhibition Overview

Co-curated by Weitzman’s Marilyn Jordan Taylor Presidential Professor Ken Lum of Fine Arts and Visiting Scholar Xianghua Liu, an Associate Professor from Minzu University of China, the artworks in this garden cultural contemporary art international tour exhibition stem from the outstanding artistic achievements of traditional garden cultural transformation by 30 renowned contemporary artists, along with faculty and students from the The Academy of Fine Arts at Minzu University of China, the foremost Chinese university for people of minority status. The chosen artworks reflect risk-taking and knowledge creation values, highlighting how traditional minority cultures strive to meet the challenges posed by modern environmental conditions.

The Quest for Truth in the Idea of the Garden: China Garden Cultural Contemporary Art International Tour Exhibition highlights contemporary Chinese artistic creations through the lens of garden cultures, primarily as they relate to China’s minority peoples. The exhibition draws inspiration from the intersection of Eastern and Western religious precepts and traditions regarding the concept of nature, emphasizing the fundamental connectedness of ideas surrounding eternality, the heavens, Earth, and human cultures.

The works in the exhibition seek to reconcile traditional concepts of gardens and art with the contemporary landscape of spatial production through new forms of artistic media. The exhibition showcases cultural diversity and community involvement through meaningful art experiences, demonstrating the transformation and innovative evolution of traditional gardening art and its intrinsic spirit, bridging the humanity of the past with the present. This exhibition is a collaborative exchange between Chinese artists, particularly those from minority backgrounds, and the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Fine Arts and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design.

Flower Body Ink Painting Workshop

In this engaging workshop, participants immerse themselves in the art of ink painting on paper towels. Professor Xianghua Liu will conduct a demonstration of Flower Body ink painting.

Participants will engage in ink painting, sparking their creativity and drawing fresh inspiration from the Flower Body ink painting practice. Throughout the workshop, paper towel rolls will be arranged to form an ink painting scroll that encourages public involvement, creating a lively and interactive environment for attendees to paint and connect. Participants will explore the limitless potential of art in a relaxed and spontaneous setting. This Flower Body ink painting workshop bridges Eastern and Western cultures and fosters communication, understanding, acceptance, and mutual learning among diverse cultures within the University of Pennsylvania community, embodying the traditional Chinese principle of "Great Truths without Division."

If you require any accessibility accommodation, such as live captioning, audio description, or a sign language interpreter, please email news@design.upenn.edu. Please note, we require at least five (5) business days’ notice.