The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh

A special one day symposium will take place at the Burrell Collection, Glasgow on Saturday 7 May.

China through the Lenses of the Western Photographers is an expansion of the major exhibition ‘China through the Lens
of John Thomson 1868 - 1872’ which is running at the Burrell Collection until 12 June.

This one-day symposium will bring together speakers from the world of visual art and culture to present in-depth discussions on the Scottish
photographer John Thomson’s experiments in China, and on his significance as one of the pioneers of documentary photography and photojournalism. Attendees will have a chance to see some new images from John Thomson’s glass negatives never before shown in public.

Registration is from 10am and the day features speakers as shown below.

10.20-11.00am
Prof Nick Pearce, Head of School of Culture & Creative Arts, University of Glasgow. Nick will talk on ‘A Novel Experiment’: John Thomson’s Illustrations of China and its People and the beginnings of
Photographic Publishing

11.00-11.40
Ms Fung Ming-Chu, Deputy Director of National Palace Museum, Taiwan will address the topic `Dissecting China through the Lens of John Thomson`

Tea Break (tea and snacks provided) 11.40-12.00

12.00-12.40
Dr Sara Frances Stevenson, Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Art History, University of Glasgow and Former Chief Curator of the Scottish National Photography Collection at the National Galleries of Scotland will consider The Scottish Documentary Tradition - The Roots of John Thomson’s Understanding

Following the break for lunch the afternoon session comprises

13.40-14.20
Dr Yupin Chung, Curator of Chinese and Far Eastern Civilisations, The Burrell Collection, Glasgow Museums will talk on ‘Travelling, Discovering and Shooting’: A Victorian Photographer’s Sport

14.200-15.00
Dr Luke Gartlan, Lecturer, School of Art History, University of St. Andrews will reflect on ‘A Complete Craze’: Isabella Bird Bishop’s Photographic Travels in China`

15.00-15.40
William Schupbach, Paintings, Prints and Drawings Librarian, Wellcome Library, London will share his views on `The Epic Journey of John Thomson`s Negatives`

Following a 20 minute tea break (tea and snacks provided) there will be an open discussion from 16.00-16.30.

The Burrell closes at 17.00 and attendees are welcome to view the pictures further prior to the closure. The exhibition itself will continue to 12 June 2011.

The symposium is free to attend but places are limited. To reserve space please call 0141 287 2593 or email johnthomson1837@gmail.com. For more information please visit www.glasgowmuseums.com

Prof Gordon Stewart, visiting Leverhulme Professor, University of Dundee will give a lecture on `The Scottish Enlightenment and British Imperalism: a case study of the 1774 Tibet mission` on Thursday 21st April 2011 at 5.15pm

The lecture which is sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust, the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh and the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies will take place in the Old Medical School Quad, Edinburgh

VENUE: G16, Doorway 4, Old Medical School Quad, Teviot Place, Edinburgh
TIME : 5.15pm

Hot on the heels of the news that Giant Pandas will soon be resident in Scotland, the Traverse Theatre, in a fortuitous piece of programming will premiere Rona Munro`s latest works `Pandas`.

This romantic comedy-thriller is set in Edinburgh and China...maybe. At its heart a young Chinese couple considering a possible future together. But as ever there are complications in business, in love and in life.

And what do love, lust and broken hearts mean to pandas?

For full details of this world premier from Rona Munro, one of Scotland`s most important, prolific and versatile playwrights, please visit the Traverse website.

March 29th is the date for this talk on The Photographic Work of John Thomson in China (Burrell Collection Exhibition, 3rd February to 12th June 2011)

Dr Chung Yupin is the speaker for this talk.

The venue is Garnethill Multicultural Centre, 21 Rose St, Glasgow G3 6RE and the talk begins at 7.30pm

Attendance to the talk is free, but places are limited.

For further information about Scotland China Association please visit their website at www.scotchina.org

The topic for the Scotland China Association talk on Tuesday 22nd February will be `Colonial Hong Kong, late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries`. The speaker for the evening is Dr Alistair Durie.

The venue is Garnethill Multicultural Centre, 21 Rose St, Glasgow G3 6RE and the talk begins at 7.30pm

Attendance to the talk is free, but places are limited.

For further information about Scotland China Association please visit their website at www.scotchina.org