Art and Literature of Lingnan: Craftsmanship, Poetic Painting, and Humanistic Landscape, Public Lecture Series on “Lingnan Culture and the World” 2026
Jointly organised by Hong Kong Public Libraries and Institute of Chinese Studies, CUHK
The Public Lecture Series on “Lingnan Culture and the World” 2026, themed “Art and Literature of Lingnan: Craftsmanship, Poetic Painting, and Humanistic Landscape” and jointly organised by the Institute of Chinese Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Public Libraries, features two insightful talks exploring the aesthetic side of Lingnan. Two lectures will be held at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library on 25 October (Sunday) and 28 November (Saturday).
The two lectures, one focused on the craftsmanship of the region during the Qing era, and the other on the humanistic landscape of Luofu, reveal how cross-regional interactions drove cultural and artistic production in Lingnan. The first lecture looks at how China’s trade with the West introduced Western decorative elements into Canton enamelled copperware, showcasing Guangzhou craftsmen’s innovative reinterpretation of Western techniques and aesthetics. The second lecture shifts focus to Su Shi’s Lingnan-themed verses, examining the construction of Lingnan’s humanistic landscape and cultural memory, as well as the creation of the Paintings of Fragrant Dream of Luofu during the Qing dynasty. Approaching the core theme through the lens of craftsmanship, poetic painting, and humanistic landscape, this series reflects the innovative dynamics of Lingnan culture in cross-regional and historical interactions.
This public lecture series is part of RGC Collaborative Research Project “Lingnan Culture and the World” (2023–2026) and is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series.
Registration: Click here
| Lecture 1 Inspiration from the West──Creative Interpretation as Reflected in Qing-Dynasty Canton Enamelled Copperware |
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| Speaker: | Professor WAN Chui Ki, Maggie Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, CUHK |
| Date: | 25.10.2026 (Sunday) |
| Time: | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon |
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Lecture 2 Su Shi and the Cultural Landscape of Lingnan: From Writing Local to Border-Crossing Transmission of the Paintings of Fragrant Dream of Luofu |
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| Speaker: | Professor CHEN Fong Fong Assistant Professor, Department of History, Academy of Chinese, History, Religion and Philosophy, HKBU |
| Date: | 28.11.2026 (Saturday) |
| Time: | 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
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| Venue: | Lecture Theatre, G/F, Hong Kong Central Library |
| Enquiries: | 2921 0285 / 3943 7382 |
| Websites: | Hong Kong Public Libraries www.hkpl.gov.hk |
| Institute of Chinese Studies, CUHK www.ics.cuhk.edu.hk | |
**Conducted in Cantonese**
**Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the talk for admission**
**Free admission by reservation. First come, first served. Register now.**
*RGC Collaborative Research Project “Lingnan Culture and the World” (2023–2026)
