To effectively support local basic education and facilitate the development of Chengdu Pilot Zone for Cultural and Educational Exchanges between China and foreign countries under the Ministry of Education, a public dialogue event titled Chengdu–Singapore, an Encounter with Beauty: Designing the Future — When Technology Meets Creativity, co-hosted by College of Chinese & ASEAN Arts of Chengdu University and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, was held at International Department on March 21. Teachers and students from multiple local schools, including Wuhou Senior High School, Shishi Tianfu High School, Shishi Jincheng Foreign Language School, Xichuan Middle School, Chengdu No. 2 Middle School, Shuangliu Middle School and Yandaojie Primary School, gathered to engage in face-to-face discussions with Chinese and Singaporean artists and education experts.
The event officially kicked off at 9:30 a.m. and was presided over by Ran Yisong, Director of International Department, college of Chinese & ASEAN Arts. Zhang Sisi, Dean of School of Fine Arts and Design, extended a warm welcome to foreign guests and participating teachers and students, and emphasized the importance of cultivating artistic attainment and broadening global vision for local students in Chengdu.
Ms. Million So, Director of Institutional Development at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, introduced the academy’s featured courses in art and design as well as its international talent training models.
Dai Yuhong, Associate Dean of School of Fine Arts and Design, then presented the current development of artistic and design creation in Chengdu amid emerging technologies, highlighting the significance of multicultural collaboration in driving innovative progress in regional art education.
The highlight of the event was a guest dialogue themed Designing the Future: When Technology Meets Creativity. Dr. Chong Keng Hua, Provost and Vice President of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Lin Kuang Wen, Associate Dean of School of Design & Media, together with Professor Zhong Yuanbo and Professor Zhang Wei from college of Chinese & ASEAN Arts, conducted in-depth discussions on topics ranging from traditional painting to digital creation, design-driven lifestyle transformation, cross-border integration of art and technology, to the irreplaceable value of art education in the AI era, bringing an inspiring exchange of artistic ideas to all participants.
During the outstanding student work sharing session, Chinese and international students presented design pieces created with AI tools and shared their creative insights. Professional comments from attending experts recognized the innovative potential of emerging designers empowered by technology.
Students from various schools also raised questions concerning art skill training, opportunities and challenges brought by AI, and disciplinary development in art and design, interacting actively with professors in a vibrant atmosphere.
Beyond inter-university academic exchange, this event serves as a concrete practice for Chengdu University to serve local basic education and engage in China-foreign cultural exchanges. It advances the in-depth integration of fine traditional Chinese culture and international art education, and contributes university expertise to the construction of Chengdu Pilot Zone for China-foreign Humanistic Exchanges. Moving forward, college of Chinese & ASEAN Arts will leverage its strengths in regional art and cultural education, connect high-quality global resources, support local international cultural exchanges, and build a multi-level, wide-ranging and high-standard exchange platform, so as to foster new-era talents with national identity and global competence.
