Renmin University of China (RUC) holds a series of lectures on Art education this semester, aimed at “nurturing creativity, enhancing aesthetic sensibilities, and promoting cultural awareness”.

Wu WeiShan, Director of the National Art Museum of China and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, was invited to deliver the first lecture on the afternoon of Oct.9^th, themed “Telling China's Story through Art”, in Minde Journalism Building, RUC.

Marking the beginning of RUC’s lecture Series on Art Education, the event has attracted more than 3 million viewers online and offline. Nearly a thousand faculty and students of RUC, along with young cadres from the National Art Museum of China, attended the lecture in person.

Promising Cooperation

Zhang Donggang, Chair of the University Council, attended the lecture and gave a speech. He pointed out that RUC’s Lecture Series on Art Education is a tribute to the dedication to promoting art education for the new era.

In his speech, Zhang highlighted the National Art Museum of China's pivotal role for Chinese art, calling it “the highest palace of Chinese art.”

“The National Art Museum of China has witnessed the vigorous development of new China's art,” Zhang said, “and it serves as a significant platform for art education.”

Zhang expresses his anticipation for RUC to excel in art education, by deepening its cooperation with the National Art Museum of China and integrating qualified resources on education.

Wu Weishan also conveyed an expectation of the promising cooperation. He revisited the history of the National Art Museum of China in serving the people and the state.

“Over the past 60 years, the museum has consistently kept pace with the times, serving the interests of the people and the nation,” Wu said, “which is in correspondence with RUC’s spirits and traditions.”

Tell China’s stories

In his lecture, Wu Weishan recalled his aesthetic life of creating more than 600 Chinese figure statues, which stand as monuments to their times, in over 30 years.

As a renowned global cultural ambassador, Wu has taken the world stage since the end of the last century. He has made great efforts to tell Chinese stories through art by exhibitions, sculptures, and speeches.

Wu’s works have been exhibited in nearly 30 countries and regions worldwide. Since he became Director of the National Art Museum of China, he has curated over a thousand high-quality exhibitions, contributing to Chinese art.

In his speech, Wu also shared his stories and artistic ideas behind his representative works with the audience, elaborating on how Chinese art disseminates and communicates in the world.

Wu’s lecture ended with his authentic hope to further tell China’s stories to the world through the arts.

“We shall let those Chinese face, who have made great contributions to all humanity, be demonstrated to the world.” Wu said, “Let the world sense the immense vitality of Chinese culture, and realize the progress that China has made.”