From April 26th to 27th, 2025, the "The Interwoven World--2025 Tsinghua University Olympic Arts and Humanities Forum" was successfully held at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. The forum was hosted by the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and the Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center, with support from the China Olympic Academy.
The forum brought together experts and scholars from universities and research institutions across the country. Focusing on the theme of "The Interwoven World," it featured five parallel forums that facilitated in-depth dialogues and explored the cultural and artistic ecology within globalized and localized contexts.
Speeches were delivered by Qin Chuan, Party Secretary of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Director of the Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center, and Ma Sai, Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Director of the Management Committee of the Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center.
In his address, Qin Chuan stated that the Academy of Arts & Design is committed to building a humanities academic exchange platform based on the Olympic spirit. On April 19th, 2021, during his inspection of Tsinghua University, President Xi Jinping visited the Academy of Arts & Design as his first stop, emphasizing the need to "enhance cultural confidence and strengthen international cultural exchange through art as a medium." The Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center has deeply implemented the spirit of President Xi's instructions and actively carried out numerous activities. Holding the Olympic Arts and Humanities Forum during Tsinghua's Alumni Reunion Day is of significant importance.
Ma Sai reviewed the achievements of the Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center. Leveraging Tsinghua University's strong sports culture heritage and the resource advantages of the Academy, the center maintains connections with over 50 research institutions worldwide and has held exhibitions in cities such as Beijing, Xiamen, Paris, and Lausanne, successfully establishing academic brands such as the "Ma John Art Exhibition." The holding of this forum reflects the mission and responsibility of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and the Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center in promoting academic exchange and fostering international cooperation.
The opening ceremony of the forum was moderated by Su Zhipeng, Associate Research Fellow of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Deputy Director of the Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center, who also served as the forum convener.
Parallel Forum One
Reconstructing Perspectives: Globalization and Chinese Cultural Expression
This forum focused on the issue of Chinese cultural expression in the context of globalization. In recent years, globalization has undergone new transformations, and new topics such as locality and regionality have emerged in the field of culture and art. In today's globalized context, how China's cultural and artistic circles re-examine globalization and how to express the characteristics of Chinese culture have become new challenges. Dong Qiang, Dean of Yenching Academy, Peking University; Huang Zongxian, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and Academic Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities; Shao Yiyang, Deputy Dean of the School of Humanities, Central Academy of Fine Arts; Sheng Wei, Research Fellow of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Wu Hongliang, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of Beijing Fine Art Academy; and Zhang Gan, Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, engaged in dialogue on this topic. The moderator for this session was curator Duan Shaofeng.
(Moderator at the top, guests ordered by appearance)
Parallel Forum One Moderator and Guest Speakers
Parallel Forum Two
The Unceasing Myriad: Body, Time, and Spacein Art History
This forum aligned with the aim of the Olympic Arts and Humanities Forum by discussing the topic of "body" in art history. From classical times to the contemporary art field, "body" is a crucial thread connecting art history. This session invited art historians to elaborate on their latest research findings regarding the understanding of "body" in art historical studies. Dong Lihui, Research Fellow of the School of Arts, Peking University; Gao Xin, Associate Professor of the School of Arts, Nanjing University; Li Xiaonan, Associate Professor of the School of Arts, Renmin University of China; Liu Xiyan, Associate Research Fellow of the Art Museum, Central Academy of Fine Arts; Yu Runsheng, Professor of the School of Humanities, Central Academy of Fine Arts; and Zhu Qingsheng, Chief Expert of the Peking University Image Studies Lab and Director of the Institute for World Art History, Shanghai International Studies University, delivered speeches and engaged in dialogue on this topic. The moderator for this session was Zhang Chen, Associate Professor of the School of Humanities, Central Academy of Fine Arts.
(Moderator at the top, guests ordered by appearance)
Parallel Forum Two Moderator and Guest Speakers
Parallel Forum Three
Collective Practice: Generative Integration of Cultural Ecosystems
This forum focused on the collective practice of cultural complexes. The creation of art museum projects, exhibition projects, and large-scale art projects is the result of the joint efforts of various artistic forces, including cultural scholars, art practitioners, and artists. This session aimed to take the case studies of collective practice in projects as a starting point, inviting guests to elaborate on "collective practice" based on specific cultural and artistic projects. Lin Shuchuan, Deputy Director of the Art Museum of Nanjing Arts Institute; Wang Huangsheng, Professor of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Director of the New Art Museum Studies Center of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts; Wu Xiaochuan, Vice President of Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts; Tang Xin, Artistic Director of Taikang Space; Yan Yan, Executive Director of Today Art Museum; and curator Duan Shaofeng delivered speeches and engaged in dialogue on this topic. The moderator for this session was Shen Sen, Deputy Director of the New Art Museum Studies Center of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.
(Moderator at the top, guests ordered by appearance)
Parallel Forum Three Moderator and Guest Speakers
Parallel Forum Four
Shaping the Body: The Body in Artistic Creation Practice
This forum invited art practitioners to discuss "bodily expression" in creation. Their perception and expression of body, time, and space were discussed to explore the topic of "shaping the body" in the creative process. Dong Shubing, Vice Dean of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Gu Liming, Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University; Liu Chun, Deputy Director and Associate Research Fellow of the Dance Research Institute of the Chinese National Academy of Arts; Sun Wei, Professor of the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Su Zhipeng, Associate Research Fellow of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, and Deputy Director of the Tsinghua University Olympic Arts Research Center; and Xu Zhenglong, Professor of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, delivered speeches and engaged in dialogue on this topic. The moderator for this session was Sun Zhenhua, Professor of the China Academy of Art.
(Moderator at the top, guests ordered by appearance)
Parallel Forum Four Moderator and Guest Speakers
Parallel Forum Five
Plural Futures: Artistic Ecology in the Digital Age
In today's ubiquitous digital age, the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence has profoundly impacted the contemporary art ecology, presenting new opportunities and challenges for artistic originality. This forum invited scholars from various art academies and media to exchange ideas on the challenges and opportunities facing the art ecology in the digital age. Han Dong, Professor and Executive Deputy Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence Art, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts; Meng Yao, Editor-in-Chief of Fine Arts Literature; Tang Xiao, Dean of the School of Experimental Art, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts; Xiong Peiyun, Associate Professor of the Department of Communication, Nankai University; Yin Dan, Vice Dean of the School of Art Education, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute; and Zhang Dan, Director of the Department of Experimental Art, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, delivered speeches and engaged in dialogue on this topic. The moderator for this session was curator Duan Shaofeng.
(Moderator at the top, guests ordered by appearance)
Parallel Forum Five Moderator and Guest Speakers
Conclusion
This forum, based on a global and multicultural perspective, adopted "The Interwoven World" as its theme to reflect the cultural ecology of today's diverse world. "Interwoven" signifies the omnipresence of globalization and the beginning of cultural exchange and communication. The world generates relationships through "interweaving," and the resulting connections are ubiquitous. "The Interwoven World" also implies the diverse and complex spiritual worlds of different scholars and artists, whose "worlds" converge, intertwine, and subsequently communicate here. "Interweaving" is the norm of globalization and the norm of today's world culture. "The Interwoven World" is what this forum aimed to present to the audience.
Partial Guest Group Photo - April 26th
Partial Guest Group Photo - April 27th
Partial Guest Group Photo - April 27th
