On the afternoon of October 15th, the second session of the Broad View Salon was held at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Room 206 of the Chi Wah Lecture Hall. Well-known calligrapher and painter and Vice Chairman of the China Artists Association, Xiang LI, gave a lecture titled “Fragrance of Brush and Ink: A Discourse on the Art of Chinese Calligraphy.” More than 100 people, including officials from relevant departments, heads of colleges, as well as faculty and student representatives, attended the event.

Xiang LI is a distinguished professor at the School of Arts of Peking University and Capital Normal University, and a member of the Expert Committee of China National Art Fund. His representative works include “Elders and Fellow Villagers,” “Native Land,” and the “Light Color Landscape Series.” His works have been collected by the National Art Museum of China, the National Museum of China, among others. Some of his works have been exhibited at SUSTech’s exhibitions, such as “Observe the macrocosm from the subtlest aspects of your being” and “The Invisible Order – Group Exhibition of Contemporary Art,” and have been added to SUSTech’s collection.

In the lecture, Xiang LI explained the concept of “mental imagery” and analyzed the fundamental differences in how “mental imagery” is expressed in Chinese and Western painting. He started by choosing calligraphy styles for beginners and the humanistic spirit carried by calligraphic strokes, combining his own creative experience to explore innovative ways to bring traditional calligraphy into contemporary practice. He emphasized that solid fundamentals are the foundation of artistic quality. He also noted that scientific research and artistic creation are inherently connected, both requiring a strong foundation and staying true to one’s heart. He encouraged faculty and students at SUSTech to continuously enhance their cultural and artistic literacy, draw inspiration for scientific research from aesthetic education, and cultivate artistic hobbies alongside their academic pursuits, thereby fully expressing their own “mental imagery.”

During the interactive session, Xiang LI conducted live calligraphy teaching and provided comments on works by students from the Zhiren Calligraphy and Paintings Club.