Chinese stories in art: A lecture on the spirit, wisdom, and aesthetics of a timeless culture

UTAR hosted a lecture titled “Chinese Stories in Art” (艺术中的中国故事) at its Kampar Campus on 23 July 2025, featuring Prof Liu Bo, a first-class artist of the China National Academy of Arts. Organised by the China Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur, with UTAR as co-organiser and the Confucius Institute at UTAR (CI UTAR) as a collaborating partner, the event aimed to promote cultural exchange and artistic appreciation.

With this goal in mind, the lecture explored the spiritual core of Chinese painting and art, as well as the cultural beauty embedded in Chinese stories. It drew around 100 students, staff, and art enthusiasts who embarked on a journey into the heart of Chinese culture, aesthetics, and wisdom.

Also present at the event were UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, China Center for Cultural and Tourism Exchanges with Foreign Countries Director Mr Zhang Hao, China Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur Director Ms Han Ning, and ICS Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Dr Ling Liong Ngo, CI UTAR Director (China) Prof Ma Yingxin moderated the session.

In his welcome remarks, Prof Dato’ Ewe expressed his gratitude to the China Cultural Centre in Kuala Lumpur for its full support in successfully inviting Prof Liu Bo, who travelled from China to conduct the talk. He also extended his appreciation to the CI UTAR for their dedicated support in coordinating the event. He said, “By organising high-calibre arts and cultural events like this, UTAR is committed to nurturing students’ aesthetic literacy beyond their academic pursuits, cultivating their ability to perceive, appreciate and create beauty.”

“Art and cultural exchange have always served as important bridges for fostering mutual understanding between nations. As the Malaysia-China relationship deepens, such ‘soft exchanges’ in arts and culture are just as vital as ‘hard cooperation’ in areas like trade and technology, as they transcend borders and connect hearts. UTAR’s artistic initiatives not only foster aesthetic appreciation but also promote intercultural learning. We welcome collaboration with all sectors and international partners to jointly host more cultural events, enriching Malaysia–China exchanges and advancing shared civilisational progress,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Ms Han introduced the purpose of the lecture and extended her appreciation to UTAR and the Confucius Institute for their well-coordinated efforts and warm hospitality. She also highlighted the Centre’s strong commitment to collaborating with UTAR. She said, “Promoting Malaysia-China cultural exchange through art has long been a key focus of our Centre. I hope this event will mark a new beginning for deeper collaboration between the Centre and UTAR, and further strengthen people-to-people ties between both countries.”

During the lecture, Prof Liu illustrated the essence of Chinese art through seven stories—Ji Zha Hanging the Sword (季札挂剑), Bo Ya and Zhong Ziqi (伯牙与钟子期), Preface to the Orchid Pavilion (兰亭集序), Dai Kui and the Style of Xiu Gu Qing Xiang (戴逵与秀骨清像), Visiting Dai on a Snowy Night (雪夜访戴图), The Moon Reflected in Erquan (二泉映月), and The Crossroads (三岔口) — through which he offered an in-depth interpretation of Chinese art from three dimensions: philosophical thought, aesthetic sensibility, and the spiritual realm of life. By transforming these ancient cultural symbols into relatable modern Chinese stories, he engaged the audience and sparked enthusiastic responses.

“I hope everyone will continue to discover and appreciate the richness of Chinese culture and its timeless stories,” he concluded.

During the Q&A session, the audience had a great interaction with Prof Liu. They discussed topics related to the oral transmission of stories; the definition of beauty; the mutual perceptions and exchanges between civilisations, to name a few.