Category: cultural

Panoramas and Portraits: 1860’s China

Posted on

The University library has recently carried out an extensive digitisation project of a superb volume of photographs many of which are from Lord Elgin’s 1860’s military campaign in China.  The majority of these images were taken by Felice Beato, the famous war photographer.

tower pre battle

The album from which these images are taken is a large, fairly ornate embossed and gilt-tooled leather bound volume measuring 69cm. It contains 59 images mounted on 56 leaves.

For an introduction to the album, please see the blog written by University volunteer Caitlin Holton. The complete set of digitised images can be seen on the University’s LUNA website at this link.                     

Some photos are captioned.  You can check by viewing a full page image and zoom in by hovering your mouse over the image to bring up the zoom tool then check if there is a caption underneath.

More info

panoramas and portraitsAs well as images recording Lord Elgin’s 1860 military campaign in the Second Opium War, there are landscape views of Honk Kong, Shanghai and Macao.The subject matter also includes studio portraits of Chinese people.

For a fuller annotated description of this album held in the University of Edinburgh and referenced as “China”: RECA.MS.8. please download the album description china_reca-ms-8

There is a list of contents for the album which can be obtained by emailing s-crc@ed.ac.uk. If you have any contributions or information on specific images these would be most welcome.

panoramas and portraits

Additional websites which may be of interest can be found at the links below.

oldchinaphotography.com

http://visualisingchina.net/

Historical Photographs of China

Sydney D. Gamble Photographs

For further information on these images please email is-crc@ed.ac.uk

Cabinet Secretary visits Confucius Campus

Posted on

Institute Director, Professor Natascha Gentz was delighted to welcome Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs to the Confucius Campus for a meeting attended also by Vice Principal Professor Charlie Jeffrey along with co-director Dr Jin Ri.

The opportunity to show her around the recently expanded facilities just three days after the campus’s new buildings were officially opened was appreciated and Ms Hyslop enjoyed the chance to get hands on with some of the Institute’s musical instrument collection.

The Institute has recently been selected as a Cultural Pilot Institute to work with a new Cultural Division within Hanban. The opportunity to build stronger and more meaningful cultural engagement between Scotland and China is welcomed by the Scottish Government which last year renewed its Cultural Memorandum of Understanding with China.

Fiona Hyslop

Fiona Hyslop

Award Winning Chinese Choir Tues 4th Oct 7.30pm

Posted on

As part of the celebrations for our 10th Anniversary, our Institute is delighted to host an award-winning Student Choir from Nankai University on Tuesday 4th Oct 2016 at 7.30 in the lovely surroundings of Nicholson Square Methodist Church.

Having performed at top concert venues around the world, the  choir will offer a diverse repertoire of Chinese and Chinese minority folk classics.

Award Winning Chinese Choir

Founded in 1995, the Student Choir of Nankai University is composed of undergraduate students, postgraduate students and international students. Nankai University has a prestigious choral tradition dating back to the 1930s and the University Choir regularly win various major international choral awards, including the highest award at the Fourth International Choral Festival in 1998, three gold medals at the Third World Olympic Choral Competition in Bremen, Germany and top prizes at the First and Second National College Student Performance Festivals in China.  In 2009, the Student Choir performed on the stage of China’s National Grand Theatre, representing the highest honour of national recognition in China.

Tickets for this concert which is free can be booked via here via Eventbrite.

Welcome to the expanded Confucius Campus

Posted on

On Monday 19th Sept the Institute celebrated its 10th Anniversary and the award of Model Institute status with the official opening of two additional buildings creating the first Confucius Campus in the world – download our campus map.

The New Buildings

Located only a few hundred metres from Abden House, home of the Confucius Institute for Scotland since it launched, the two additional buildings at nos 79 & 81 Dalkeith Road previously operated as University nursery premises. The £1million development increases capacity at the Institute with an additional six teaching and study rooms as well as a specialist library for students undertaking postgraduate Chinese Studies courses and evening classes. Download the campus-map here.

Model Confucius Institute

A day long programme of events marked this anniversary which saw the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea  unveil a Model Institute Award Plaque with Ma Jian Fe, Deputy Director of Hanban.This was followed by the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony with a number of presidents of  Chinese and European partner universities.

Witnessed by 120 guests the morning events also included a keynote speech by Chen Liming, Chairman of IBM, Greater China – a visiting professor at the University – and the signing of a number of Memorandum of Understanding.

The Open House Afternoon programme gave staff, students and the general public the opportunity to tour the campus buildings where language tasters, calligraphy workshops, and musical instruments were all on offer along with Tai Chi, Chinese teas and delicious Chinese dumplings.  Visitors ranged across the age groups and nationalities and the lovely Panda mascots were a hit with everyone.

The event concluded with a celebratory dinner at the Playfair Library with cultural interludes including a mini-fashion show of Qipao from our new partner Donghua University’s College of Fashion and Innovation.  Guests also enjoyed watching Institute calligrapher, Chi Zhang, create a calligraphy poem to specially composed music from Hugh MacKay on the cello. The short video of rehearsal and performanc Warriors! brought youthful energy into the room before guests were invited into Old College Quad for a beating the retreat finale.

The University of Edinburgh’s Confucius Institute for Scotland has developed a strong reputation, introducing people to the Chinese language, advising Scottish companies seeking to do business in China and staging award-winning cultural events.

Professor Natascha Gentz, Chair of Chinese Studies at the University and Director of the Institute, said: “The past 10 years has been a period of considerable achievement, with the Institute helping to foster closer links between people in Scotland and China. This major investment will support our provision of post-graduate programmes and our aim of extending our range of activities. A key strand will be to work more closely with local schools, enabling children to learn a new language and discover more about Chinese culture.This is an important time in the life of the Institute and we look forward with confidence to the next 10 years.”

Writer in Residence Agreement – Beijing Publishing Group

Posted on

A 15 strong delegation from Beijing Publishing Group visited the Confucius Institute for Scotland earlier this month to sign an agreement which will see upcoming and well known Chinese authors visit Edinburgh to spend a period of time as a Writer in Residence in the city of Edinburgh.The delegation visited the Institute after attending the London Book Fair and brought with them a donation of 500 books which are now housed in the Institute.

With a 60 year history  Beijing Publishing Group Co. Ltd is now a large cultural enterprise with eight professional publishing houses, five magazines and fourteen subsidiaries. Two of the publishing houses focus on Chinese literary publishing and in 2015 the October College of Arts was established from where this initiative has been launched.  Each writer selected as a Writer in Residence will have the opportunity to spend time in Edinburgh and environs. The Institute will arrange public event(s) for the writer appropriate to the profile and interests of the individual.

Beijing Publishing Group

Chinese Arts & Cultural Festival Sun 14th August

Posted on

Sunday 14th August is the date for this one day celebration of Chinese Arts & Culture at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre Venue 150 when the Drama Club from the Institute’s University Partner, Fudan University in Shanghai, will open the programme.

Chinese Arts and Cultural Festival Morning Programme

10.00-11.00
RIchard II –  Fudan University Drama Club (in Chinese)

11.00-12.00
Puppet Show – by Shanghai Theatre Academy

Noon – lucky draw

Chinese Arts and Cultural Festival AFTERNOON Programme

14.00-15.30
Performance by the Experimental High School, Beijing Normal University

15.30-17.30
Peking Opera from Hubei Provincial Peking Opera Theatre

Chinese Arts & Culture FestivalOrganised by the Scotland China Chamber of Commerce, this one day celebration offers a Morning Programme and an Afternoon Programme as well as an Arts and Craft Exhibition. The opportunity for hands-on cultural activities will also be on offer.

For more information please visit the SCCC website page.

To book tickets for the morning please link to the Fringe website here

To book tickets for the afternoon please link to the Fringe website here.

 

Autumn Chinese Calligraphy Classes Sept/Oct 2016

Posted on

This autumn discover the ancient art of calligraphy using the traditional Chinese brush and ink combination that has been in use for thousands of years.

The five week course will be led by  Chi Zhang, the Institute’s experienced calligraphy teacher.  Students will be introduced to the materials of ink, brush, stone and paper, and initially common techniques will be introduced. The class will focus on the basic strokes of the traditional artistic writing style known as Clerical (Li Shu).  This is an artistic style dating back 2000 years which is still widely used in signage and posters.  This is an easy style to learn so is very suitable for beginners.

Students can anticipate completing at least one piece of Chinese calligraphy artwork per class.  The content can be selected from a range of options including a Chinese poem or perhaps a quotation from an ancient sage.

With a maximum of 10 students in the class plenty of personal attention is guaranteed as well as clear demonstrations and instructions to help students develop their skills.  Both beginners and advanced students are welcome in the class.

The cost is £75 for the 10 hour course which runs Tuesday evenings from 6pm-8pm from 27 September to 25 October 2016.  There is a concession rate of £60.  The fee includes all materials.
A minimum of five students are required to ensure the class goes ahead.

To secure a place on this rewarding course please download this registration PDF
Autumn2016-CalligRegFormHalfTerm, then complete and return it to the Confucius Institute for Scotland with a cheque for the correct amount made out to the University of Edinburgh.

OVERVIEW

Chinese Calligraphy Five Week Course
Tuesdays from 27 Sept-25 Oct 2016 6pm-8pm
£75 including all materials

Louise Reay: Que Sera, 些拉 4-14 & 16-28 Aug 2016

Posted on

Once again the Institute is pleased to be supporting this show from SOAS Chinese language graduate Louise Reay.  A comedy in Chinese for people who don’t speak Chinese, Que Sera is her follow up show following last year’s successful Fringe debut when she garnered great reviews.

“An absurdly brilliant clown act that explores the nature of communication and language” **** (Fringe Review)

“Superb… a standout show” (The Skinny)

“Truly fantastic,…utterly out there” (Al Murray)

Categorised in the Fringe as Comedy, Clown, Surreal, Absurdist, Funny, Stand Up you can catch Louise’s show at 15.20 daily from 4-14 or 16-28 August in Venue 88. Just the Tonic at the Caves. Advance booking here.

Louise Reay

Exhibition from Shanghai Municipal Archives 28/29 June

Posted on

An exhibition on the city of Shanghai is taking place in the first floor project room at 50 George Square in the University of Edinburgh’s Central campus. Opening on Tuesday 28 June from 4pm this exhibition from Shanghai Municipal Library presents the story of the historical development of Shanghai and considers its future through to 2020.

Shanghai Municipal Archives, established in 1959, is one of the national archives which has the largest collections in China, having over 3.6 million pieces in total at present. Over the years, the Archive has actively carried out cultural exchanges and cooperation overseas holding thematic archive exhibitions in more than 20 countries across all five continents.

This exhibition will be the first  in the UK. With the collection of photos, this exhibition shows the historical developments and changes of Shanghai, as well as the good relations between Shanghai and the United Kingdom over the past 170 years.

The exhibition will be formally opened at 4pm on Tuesday 28th June and be open to the general public on Wednesday 29th June from 10am till 5pm.  Admittance is free and all are welcome.

VENUE:  Project Room, 50 George Square, Edinburgh
DATE & TIME: Tuesday 28 June – Opening Reception from 4pm; Wednesday 29 June 10am-5pm

Chinese Independent Doc. Films Xu Xing 26-27 May

Posted on

Xu Xing: History, Memory & Legacy
Tracing Vestiges of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)

This year our second programme of truly remarkable cutting-edge, independent, documentary filmmaking from China including screenings of films rarely shown & with the opportunity for discussions with the director features the award winning novelist and film maker Xu Xing.

Download the Full Programme here

My Chronicle of the Cultural Revolution

In 1972, Xu Xing wrote the first love letter of his life and sent it to a girl in school, whose parents had been sent to the countryside. Not knowing, what to do with it, she showed the anonymous letter to her teacher. Xu Xing was identified as author through his handwriting, and was detained…

In this autobiographical piece, Xu Xing tells the story of his own experiences of the Cultural Revolution by tracing his personal encounters of the past in contemporary China.

Thurs 26th May, 2016 17.30–19.00 David Hume Tower, Lower Ground Floor, LG 11
My Chronicle of the Cultural Revolution, 80 min.
A drinks reception will follow the showing and Q&A

Criminal Records

In 2011, Xu Xing accidentally came across registration documents of prisoners, who were detained as active counter-revolutionaries during the Cultural Revolution. Unlike most other political prisoners of the time, these were all peasants, and from the same region in Zhejiang. So Xu Xing started his journey to find these people to discover their stories both as prisoners and their later lives.

Frid 27th May, 2016 17.00–19.30 David Hume Tower, Lower Ground Floor, LG 11
Criminal Records, 120 min.
A drinks reception will follow the showing and Q&A

BIOGRAPHY

Xu XingXu Xing, born 1956 in Beijing, started his career as a novelist and writer. His publication Variation Without a Theme won him accolades at the Beijing University Art Festival and international acclaim and awards such as the Tucholsky Prize for Foreign Literature (Pen International) and “Order of the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” from the French Ministry of Culture for his translated work.

He has held fellowships and author-in-residence positions in Germany, France and the US. After turning to filmmaking, his documentaries were selected for film festivals garnering awards from Korea and the Awards Forum for Independent Documentary (AIF). His work has been widely shown in the US at Harvard, Yale & Columbia, and in Europe at Berlin, Rome & Aix-en-Provence a.o.

After each screening there will be a Q&A session with the director Xu Xing followed by more informal conversations during the drinks receptions

As seat numbers are restricted, please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk to book your place to attend either or both evenings.

Zheng He-When the Dragon Ships Came Thurs 9 June 19.00

Posted on

The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh, in association with SCEN, is delighted to bring to Edinburgh this award winning show from Karin Schäfer of Figuren Theatre blending puppetry, video and animation.

Tickets for the public show at 7pm on 9th June will be on sale from 6.30pm at the venue- Central Hall, West Tollcross. Advance ticket sales are available via the Queens Hall box office

With two free shows for school groups running at 10.30 and 13.00 the excitement about this show is building.  But for those not in school there is still an opportunity to see the show in a ticketed evening performance at 19.00- read on!

Zheng He

Zheng He-When the Dragon Ships Came relates the tale of the fantastic journeys of this famous Chinese explorer who with his fleet of more than 300 enormous ‘dragon ships’ sailed via Indonesia, India, and the Arabian Coast to Africa – almost 100 years before Columbus set sail for America. While every child in China knows the story of Zheng He’s travels, here, his adventures remain largely unknown.

Zheng He Tea

This production has won many plaudits for its innovative set design which features interaction between the screen and the action on stage. The animated films, video clips, shadow images and masks form a constantly changing visual narrative while the multi-lingual audio and musical score ensure that audience members are fully engaged by the production

Click here to see a short video extract.

Zheng He Screen

The evening show is open to the public and will take place from 7pm-8pm in Central Hall, West Tollcross, EH3 9PB.

Doors will open at 6.30pm.  There is no age restriction on this production but age 7+ is recommended.

Tickets are £5 per single ticket or £15 for a family of 4
(2 adults+ 2 x 12yrs or under OR 1 adult + 3 x 12yrs or under).

Bookings for this event at Tollcross Central Hall is through the Queen’s Hall Box office.You can book in any of the following ways

Online: 24hrs a day at www.thequeenshall.net

By telephone:   (0131) 668 2019.
Telephone bookings operate from 10am – 5pm Monday to Saturday.  Credit & debit card bookings are accepted along with customer enquiries on the above number.

In person: The Box Office is open from 10am – 5pm Monday to Saturday on non-concert evenings, or until 15 minutes after the start of a Queen’s Hall performance.

By post: Postal bookings are accepted with cheques made  payable to “The Queen’s Hall Box Office”. Postal bookings should be sent to The Queen’s Hall Box Office, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG.

By fax:  Bookings can be accepted by fax if card details for payment are included. The fax number for the Queen’s Hall is: (0131) 668 2656.

Schools which wish to send a group of students (not necessarily students studying Mandarin) should in the first instance call us on 0131 662 2180 or email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk.

Win a trip to Shanghai in Writing/Photography Contest

Posted on

Have you been to China? Did you visit Shanghai?  Even if you have only read a book about Shanghai or China, you can still can take part in a writing or photography contest to win a trip to China.

Shanghai Get Together is the 4th Writing and Photography Contest run by Shanghai Library which offers first and second prize winners the opportunity to win a trip to China.Third prize winners will receive specially made gifts.

Applications for this contest is now open to people from overseas. Simply submit a short article or photograph (or both) to share your impressions, experiences and stories.

This competition is run by Shanghai Library. For entry requirements and detailed information, please visit Shanghai Library web page here.

Shanghai Library provide our Institute with a selection of books on an annual basis under their Window of Shanghai programme.  In previous competitions we have had a third prize winner!

Good Luck!

city scene

5 week/10 hour Calligraphy Course-with Chinese Proverbs: from 10 May

Posted on

Take the chance to try your hand at the ancient Chinese arts of calligraphy and brush painting in a short five week/10 hour course taught by the Institute’s well known calligraphy teacher Chi Zhang.

Running every Tuesday evening from 10 May till 7 June this short course, focusing on Chinese characters, will introduce common techniques related to Chinese soft brushes and ink. Students will learn the basic strokes of Regular Style (Kai Shu), the radical parts and gain cultural understandings relating to the structure of Chinese characters.

Students can anticipate completing at least one piece of Chinese calligraphy artwork per class. The contents of this work could be a selected Chinese proverb or perhaps an ancient master’s quotation. Demonstration and plenty of personal attention will be provided during the class. This course is suitable for both beginners and advanced students.

There will be a maximum of 10 students in the class for which all materials are provided. The cost is £75 for 10 hours or £60 for concessions. Minimum enrolment of 5 is required to ensure the class goes ahead.

To book a place on this rewarding course please complete and return the registration form below along with your cheque payment made out to the University of Edinburgh.  Cash payment can be made at the Institute office

Spring2016-CalligRegFormHalfTerm

literature

Chinese New Year celebrations for Year of the Monkey

Posted on

As the Year of the Monkey approaches celebrations are being planned around the world. This 15 day festival starts with the new moon on the first day of the lunar month and ends 15 days later with the Full Moon.  In China, the festival is really all about family but with such a large diaspora the Chinese community will come together in a variety of ways and places to mark this, the largest of all the Chinese festivals.  You can read about some of the traditions of this 15 day period here and here.

Closer to home, Universities, Confucius Institutes, community groups and civic society are planning a range of celebrations to mark the arrival of the Year of the Monkey.

  • The University of Edinburgh will celebrate the Lunar New Year in the Debating Hall of Teviot Row Students Union on 4 February from 18.00-20.00.
  • From noon till 4pm on Platform 2 at Waverley Station on Friday 5th February drop by to try out a range of Chinese crafts, get a temporary tattoo, create your own Chinese lantern and if you are lucky, catch a lion dance or a rendition of a Chinese love song.
  • On Saturday 6th February the quadrangle of Edinburgh City Chambers will reverberate to the sounds of both Scottish bagpipes and Chinese Drums as the Lord Provost’s Chinese New Year celebrations kick off at noon. Following on from the Pipes and Drums of George Watson’s College, both a Dragon and Lion dance will take place in the quad before invited guests head into the City Chambers for more entertainment and a reception.
  • Our own Institute will host its annual Chinese New Year party in Abden House on Friday 12th from 18.00-20.00 featuring games, crafts, prizes, karaoke and of course a taste of delicious jiaoazi. In the quieter corners there’s a chance to try out some Chinese crafts, Chinese Chess or even Mah-jong.  And if we are lucky with the weather the evening will end in the garden with the release of some Chinese Sky Lanterns. Booking essential.
  • 12th February is also the date when Glasgow’s Confucius Institute welcomes in the New Year at Hunter Halls in an evening of celebration of traditional Chinese culture.
  • Tuesday 23 Feb will see Heriot-Watt students and guests will mark the Chinese New Year with a concert featuring the Heriot-Watt Chamber choir and musicians from Tianjin University of Finance and Economics.

But if there are no tickets left or you don’t feel like heading out into whichever storm may be raging,curl up on Sunday 7th Feb from noon till 4pm when you can watch a live stream of the China’s most popular evening of TV – China Central Television’s Spring Festival Gala.  Running from 8pm till midnight Beijing time, viewers here should be able to watch or simply search for CCTV Spring Festival Gala live stream.

Fudan University Discovery Day:29 Oct 1pm-3.30pm

Posted on

Partner of the Confucius Institute for Scotland, Fudan University is based in one of China’s most vibrant cities – Shanghai.

Find out more about Fudan University – and its network of Confucius Institutes – by dropping into the Project Room at 50 George Square on Thursday 29th October 1.00-3.30pm.  And join us for a special distinguished lecture from Fudan’s Prof Shen Dingli at 6pm.  Read on for more details.

FUDAN UNIVERSITY

Fudan University, based in the vibrant city of Shanghai is one of China’s leading Universities. Founded in 1905 Fudan University is composed of four campuses and has over 30,000 students.

In 2006 Fudan University was partnered with the University of Edinburgh as the Chinese partner in the about to be established Confucius Institute for Scotland. Since this time each year Fudan University sends teaching staff to the Institute to develop the Chinese language skills of the Institute and University students.

In addition Fudan also has partnerships with the Confucius Institutes in Auckland, Sydney, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Nottingham Universities.

Exhibition

Drop in to the Project Room 1.06 in 50 George Square to chat through opportunities to study abroad for a semester or more. A number of University of Edinburgh students are currently studying at Fudan under joint programmes.   In addition each year there are a number of scholarship opportunities offered by various bodies to he University of Edinburgh and to the Confucius Institute network. Check these out by speaking to the exhibitors from Fudan University, Auckland University’s Confucius Institute, Hamburg University’s Confucius Institute, Nottingham University Confucius Institute and the Confucius Institute for Scotland here in the University of Edinburgh.

Entertainment

Take a seat and enjoy a cup of Chinese tea and a cookie while listening to the evocative sound of the Pipa and the Bamboo Flute. You will also have the chance to watch various forms of martial arts – and perhaps even try these out for yourself at an informal workshop.

Evening Lecture

Our Distinguished Lecture speaker from Fudan is Prof Shen Dingli, deputy dean of the Institute of International Studies. His talk entitled “China’s Peaceful Rice: Challenges & Opportunities” will consider how China’s rise is changing the balance of power in a number of fields – with its ambitions continuing to divide its critics. Join us at 6pm in the Project Room for this fascinating talk

All welcome!

Confucius Institute Day George Square 24 Sept

Posted on

Drop into our Chinese pop-up Tea House to enjoy a taste of China in George Square on Thursday 24th Sept.  Look out for the red & white tent on the corner of George Square near David Hume Tower. 

A full day programme of performances and workshops is arranged including music, dance, calligraphy, and kungfu as well as numerous activities.

CI day

  • Try our takeaway Chinese language menu
  • Have your phone  ready for a selfie with the cute Panda couple
  • Enjoy some delicious Chinese tea
  • Check out the Kung Fu and Dance performances from the visiting performers from CUPES- Beijing’s Capital University of Physical Education and Sport

There’s lots more to enjoy from a free Chinese “tattoo” to the chance to make your own windmill as well as trying out some our Kung Fu and Chinese dance moves in our lunchtime workshop sessions.

Running from 10 am till 5.30pm on Thursday 24th September drop in for 5 minutes or 50 minutes as suits your schedule – all are welcome!

Chinese teaching in schools

This is the second Confucius Institute Day organised by the Confucius Institute for Scotland. Last year our Pop Up Chinese Tea House was placed on the Mound at Princes Street and some thousands of people (and over 60 volunteers) came along to enjoy the event.

Shanghai Theatre Academy: Chinese Opera & Folk Music

Posted on

Heriot-Watt University is the venue for an evening of Chinese dance, music and opera on Saturday 26th September from 6-8pm. 

Performances will feature Beijing and Kungqu Opera as well as Folk Music. Highlights will include a Beijing opera solo dance using silk ribbons ‘Celestial Maid Scattering Flowers‘ and from the Kungqu Opera tradition ‘Borrowing Fan’ which features acrobatics accompanied by a gong and drum and a Pipa solo “Xiang Yu, the Conqueror, Unloaded the Armor” using a four stringed Chinese lute.

This performance is jointly sponsored by Hanban and the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business and Communication (SCIBC).

Tickets are available at no charge but booking is essential.  To book a place please register by 25 September at this link

Click here for further information on Shanghai Theatre Academy
Click here for further information on SCIBC

Spotlight Taiwan Lecture Series 27th Aug 15.00-17.00

Posted on

As part of the Spotlight Taiwan programme, Ang Li, one of the most prominent woman writers in Taiwan today will give a lecture on “Sex Food and Politics” on Thursday 27th August 15.00-17.00.

In this lecture, she examines the intertwining of gender, food and politics, which continues to break new ground of literary reflection, creating a new space of questions involving female sexuality and Asian women’s literature in the international literary scene.

Taking place at the University of Edinburgh’s Project Room 1.06, at No 50 George Square booking is required.  To reserve a place please email spotlighttaiwan.edinburgh@gmail.com

Calligraphy at Edinburgh Castle

Posted on

Calligraphy students from the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s classes, can this year see the work of their class tutor, artist Chi Zhang, projected onto the walls of Edinburgh Castle.

Augmenting the China presence at this year’s Tattoo were members of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army along with dancers and dragons. Topping it all was a stunning projection of Chi’s originally calligraphy.

calligraphy

For those who do not yet read Chinese this translates as
‘Edinburgh Military Tattoo Welcomes Friends from China’.

This projection, onto the already stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, was warmly applauded especially by the many Chinese present in the audience.

To find out more about calligraphy please click here and to enrol in one of Chi Zhang’s classes please click here.

Michael Goedius 10 August Contemporary Chinese Art

Posted on

Michael Goedhuis, a world renowned expert on contemporary Chinese art, will offer his unique perspective on developments in this fascinating field in a evening event taking place in the University of Edinburgh on Monday 10th August with registration from 17.30 for the talk which will start at 18.00. The venue for this event is Lecture Theatre 4 which is easily accessed from 29 Buccleuch Place, EH8 9JS

This talk entitled “The New Chinese Cultural Revolution. Contemporary Chinese Art and Understanding its Potential and Meaning” will be of interest to a broad audience but particularly to those with an interest in Chinese culture and to members of the investment community as Chinese art is currently one of the most successfully performing asset classes.

Michael Goedhuis is a pioneer in the field of modern and contemporary Chinese art, having spent the past 15 years identifying the best and most original artists working today. He will deliver an insightful presentation in Edinburgh on what he describes as China’s true “Cultural Revolution”, not confined to art but manifest in film, music, theatre, design, dance and literature and leading to a rapid expansion of investment in art by a new generation of collectors.

Tickets for this event are charged at £10 for Asia Scotland Institute members and partners and £25 for non-members. Click here to book

To read more about contemporary Chinese art please visit Michael Goedius’s website.