Lecturer Zheng Qinyan (second from right), who is also a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, helps children with their painting in Beijing, at a lecture on Chinese ink and wash, an event to promote good wishes for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics via traditional Chinese painting, on Dec 19, 2021. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A lecture on Chinese ink and wash was held on Sunday in Beijing, teaching children how to convey good wishes for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics via traditional Chinese painting.
More than 20 children age 7 to 14 from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, including Pakistan and Russia, attended the class. Many are students at the Research Center of Children's Artworks, part of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
The lecture was also accompanied by an online session attended by eight children from the Shihezi Kindergarten in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
The lecture, themed Winter Olympics Dream in Chinese Ink and Wash, was part of the SCO Countries Art Exhibition of Children and Young Artists jointly organized by the All-China Women's Federation; the Ministry of Education; the SCO's Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission; the Central Academy of Fine Arts; the Pakistan and Russian embassies; the SCO Secretariat; and the SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan.
The exhibition called for submissions earlier this month. Selected paintings will be sent to the secretariat of SCO's Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission on Dec 28 and will be assembled into a long scroll to displayed online in January.
On Sunday morning, the children paid a visit to the SCO Secretariat before attending the two-hour class.
Vladimir Norov, the SCO's secretary-general, said in his opening remarks that the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics is an international event that athletes and spectators around the world are looking forward to.
He said the works of the participating children with a focus on the Games reflected "peace, friendship, common development and aspiration for good and kindness".
Vladimir Norov (third from left, back row), the SCO's secretary-general, poses for a picture with participants in Beijing at a lecture on Chinese ink and wash, an event to promote good wishes for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics via traditional Chinese painting, on Dec 19, 2021. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"The young generation of the SCO already shares the principles of the 'Shanghai spirit', embodying mutual trust, tolerance and respect for the diversity of civilizations, and calls for solidarity and comprehensive support," he said, adding that these types of creative projects bring the members of the SCO closer.
The lecture started with an introduction of the development of winter sports in China, and then children worked in groups to create their works on long scrolls.
Lecturer Zheng Qinyan, who is also a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, said the class was designed to help children better understand the Winter Olympics through the elements of traditional Chinese art.
The completed paintings depicted snow-topped mountains, people playing winter sports and various architecture.
"The works really showed the children's enthusiasm for this traditional art medium and how they actively experimented with it," she said.
"Their works showcased great variety and creativity, and it gave the students good teamwork experience," she added.
Sun Heyan, a 13-year-old girl who participated, said it was her first time cooperating with other children to finish a large painting, and the process was very interesting.
"I am looking forward to the Winter Olympics and hope to show through my painting the image of Beijing, the city of the double Olympics. I also hope the Winter Olympics will be a success," she added.
