Author: WU Chunyan

Publisher: Guangming Daily 

Date: July 2, 2024

Jinan University's UNESCO World Traditional Crafts: Inheritance and Innovation Chair hosted a seminar on Cultural Confidence and New China-Chic at NEEDART Art Space, Vanke Times Center in Beijing's Chaoyang District. The seminar delved into topics such as contemporary inheritance of traditional handicrafts, lifestyle and space aesthetics, cultural heritage protection, and brand promotion to shape a new China-Chic with global appeal in today's digital age.

The event witnessed engaging discussions on various aspects, including the role of professional industry associations, contemporary design, architectural aesthetics, empowering female inheritors, and the intersection of traditional culture with modern media and international communication. Participants explored strategies for preserving and cultivating Chinese traditional culture while infusing it with a fresh, international aesthetic.

Chen Ping, Chief Chair of UNESCO's World Traditional Handicrafts: Inheritance and Innovation and Dean of Jinan University's Cultural Heritage and Creative Industry Research Institute, highlighted the seminar's objectives of promoting Chinese culture globally through cultural products and artistic works. He emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration and utilization of the Chair's international platform to enhance cultural exchange and appreciation.

Professor Lin Zhenzhong, a co-founder of the seminar, expressed a vision to revitalize traditional Chinese aesthetics and create a new China-Chic that resonates with a global audience. He underscored the significance of cultivating cultural self-confidence and fostering international awareness of Chinese heritage among younger generations.

During an online conference, Professor Wang Zhong proposed leveraging artistic thinking and urban design to elevate the quality of urban public spaces, imbuing them with the city's core spirit and cultural essence. The collaboration between artists, planners, architects, and engineers aimed to envision a future city characterized by diverse and vibrant humanistic activity spaces.

This seminar marks a significant step in promoting traditional cultural inheritance and dissemination under UNESCO's World Traditional Handicrafts: Inheritance and Innovation initiative. Future seminars planned by the Chair aim to further showcase Chinese culture, share compelling narratives, and reinforce cultural confidence while continuing to celebrate and preserve traditional heritage.