Lectures and workshops by Dr Mark Sagona at Xiamen University, China

Dr Mark Sagona, visiting lecturer in the Department of History of Art, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta has just returned from a visit to the Art College of Xiamen University, China, were he delivered lectures and conducted a number of painting workshops to undergraduate students following fine arts courses in the same art college.

The visit was made possible after a delegation from the Art College of Xiamen University visited the University of Malta last November. Important points of contact between the History of Art and Fine Arts stream offered by the Department of History of Art and the fine arts courses offered by the Art College of Xiamen University have been established.

During his visit, which occurred between the 10th and 17th April, Dr Sagona was received by Professor Su Li, Dean of the Art College of Xiamen University and by a number of painting professors, including Professor Xu Qiang and Professor Zhen Shenglong, professor of traditional Chinese painting.

Dr Sagona worked most specifically with the fine arts students of Professor Qiang. Dr Sagona visited a number of studios of contemporary Chinese artists including that of Prof. Zhang Liping, Deputy Dean of Xiamen Art College.

He was also shown around the vast campus of Xiamen University, including two other campuses of the same university on the mainland, and other places of interest such as the Nanputuo Temple and the vehicle-free island of Gu Lang Yu.

Dr Sagona was also present for the inauguration of the fine arts exhibition commemorating the 96th anniversary of the foundation of Xiamen University in 1921.

One of Mark Sagona’s abstract paintings was presented on behalf of the Department of History of Art, University of Malta to the Art College at Xiamen University, where it will hang in the College’s Library.