On July 20th, the 2019 Tsung-Dao Lee Science and Art Workshop, co-sponsored by Tsung-Dao Lee Library, Tsung-Dao Lee Institute and School of Design of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, was held at Tsung-Dao Lee Library, SJTU. Prof. Chen Jin, Director of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library and Executive Director of Tsung-Dao Lee Library, Prof. Zhu Wei, Executive Director of the Tsung-Dao Lee Center of Science and Arts of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of American Institute of East-West Art, Prof. Zhu Gang, Director of School of Fine Arts of Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts and Distinguished Professor of Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Prof. Yao Jianwei, Visual Artist of Tsinghua University, Prof. Xu Haiguang, School of Physics and Astronomy of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Associate Fellow of Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Associate Professor Li Sheng, Head of Scientific Cooperation Office of Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Associate Professor Kong Fanqiang, Deputy Director of Department of Design, School of Design of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Li Pengcheng, Dean of Department of Visual Communication, School of Design of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, together with the students of the workshop, as well as faculties and students of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, attended the opening ceremony.
After the opening ceremony, Chen Jin, Zhu Wei, Zhu Gang, Yao Jianwei and other experts and scholars from the circles of science and art made thought-provoking reports successively, reflecting the scientific vision of artists and the artistic feeling of scientists. Prof. Chen Jin made a vivid and exhaustive review on the outstanding contributions of Prof. Tsung-Dao Lee in the field of physics, science education in China, and art from three persepctives including “Study Things to Acquire Knowledge”, “Educate by Great Virtue” and “Interlink Science & Art”, disseminating and carrying forward the scientific spirit, patriotism and love for science and art of Prof. Tsung-Dao Lee.
Prof. Zhu Wei highlighted the significance of art to human beings in his lecture entitled “Introspection on Science and Art” from the perspective of art history and artistic evolution. The lecture provided a window into the artistic development from classical art to modern art and contemporary art, and elaborated that “the overall artistic development is a history of changes in ideas and requirements, rather than the one of technical proficiency improvement”. “The evolution from classical art to contemporary art is fueled by innovation from external value to internal value,” he said.
Prof. Zhu Gang, starting from the artistic mindset of scientists, educators and litterateurs, as well as the outstanding contributions of masters of art in science, further discussed the progress of design science driven by the development of computer technology, and the role of art in promoting color science, optics, pigment chemistry and other disciplines. It showcases that science and art are mutually complemented and closely interconnected.
Yao Jianwei, employing ink painting technique and specific cases in modern art, demonstrated the radical changes of artistic presentation brought by modern technologies. Finally, he shared his own’s experience of combining artistic creation with science through vivid examples.
The heated discussions were joined by 19 students at the workshop. They were from 8 universities in Shanghai, Sichuan, Guangxi and Gansu. The curricular design covered both theory and practice and emphasizes exchange of design ideas. The courses were directly positioned to facilitate the actual creation of science and artistic works by helping students to create a group of works that are more in line with scientific themes and more creative to show the unique charm of science that blends with art.
