Professor Jao Tsung-i, Permanent Honorary Director of HKBU Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology, provided gentle guidance and tremendous support to the founding and development of the Academy. In turn, the Academy sees as its mission to inherit and promote the industrious spirit of research and its vision to build upon his profound scholarship. The entire Academy community was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Master Jao. May his soul rest in peace and his works live on forever! To pay tribute to the spirit of Prof. Jao as well as provide opportunities for the general public to experience beauty of his artworks, the Jao Tsung-I Academy of Sinology, together with Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole, The University of Hong Kong, will organize an exhibition of his paintings and calligraphy as well as lectures, master class and Taster Day related to both his scholarship and culture.
Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Honorary Patrons of the Development Committee of JAS Ms Angeline Yiu Ching Fun and Ms Veronica Yiu Ching Yee, Deputy Director (Art) of Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole of the University of Hong Kong Dr. Thomas Tang Wai Hung, Retired Professor of National University of Singapore Professor Ku Cheng-mei, Dean of Arts of HKBU Professor Mette Hjort, and Director of JAS Professor Chen Zhi. Dr. Thomas Tang Wai Hung,Professor Jao’s son-in-law, conducted the guided tour and opening lecture, unveiling the stories behind the exhibits and the artistic journey of Professor Jao.
The exhibition showcased an array of important artworks by Professor Jao, portraying the scenery in Hong Kong and his artistic realization. Highlights include Preaching Bodhidharma, one of Professor Jao’s earlier works which made its first-ever public debut in this exhibition,Mountain is Mountain, Water is Water,a masterpiece that was featured in the National Museum of China, and the calligraphy of his favourite quote, depicting his scholarly persistence and longing for serenity in life. Visitors could also appreciate Professor Jao’s later works created with both traditional and acrylic paint, as well as the local and global maps of Master Jao Tsung-i’s Artistic Journey designed especially for the occasion.
In the Master Class of Paper Fan Art, Dr. Chan Yung, Part-time Lecturer of the Department of Fine Arts of CUHK and Member of Chinese Calligraphers’ Association Hong Kong Branch, introduced the skills of paper fan art with demonstrations and guided the participants through the steps. The Taster Day also attracted over a hundred members of the public. They were given the opportunity to practise calligraphy, design on the flat surface of the fan, stamp with a seal and eventually create their own paper fan after inserting the wooden sticks, to experience the entire process and learn the unique skills of literati-style fan art.
Thanks to the speakers' authorization for the five series lectures, videos of the talks are now available by clicking the following topics:
Opening Lecture: The Artistic Journey of Professor Jao Tsung-i
Dr. Thomas Tang Wai Hung, Deputy Director (Art) of Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole, The University of Hong Kong
First Lecture: The Impressive Buddhist Statue Making of the Kizil Caves in Xinjang
Professor Ku Cheng-mei, Retired Professor, National University of Singapore
Second Lecture:“Matching Heaven with Heaven”: Zi Qing in the Zhuangzi
Professor Kim-chong Chong, Professor Emeritus at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Third Lecture: The Rustic Antiquity and Ingenious Novelty of Master Jao’s Calligraphy
Professor Sin Chow Yiu, Vice President [Academic], Dean of School of Arts, and Head of Department of Chinese, Hong Kong Nang Yan College of Higher Education
Fourth Lecture: Four Aspects of the Transcendental Pursuits of Chinese Artists, with a Side Discussion on Professor Jao Tsung-i’s Attitude Towards Art
Dr. Cheng Wai Ming, Deputy Director (Research) and Senior Research Fellow of Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole, The University of Hong Kong
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