Art fair has been Organized at Festival of Chinese Culture at INRTU
The Chinese culture and art festival "On the Shores of Lake Baikal" kicked off at INRTU on October 15. The event brought together Irkutsk students and schoolers, as well as representatives of partner universities fr om China. The program featured film showings, concerts, a Tai Chi training and an art fair.
The art fair drew particular interest from the INRTU students, offering a tea ceremony, an exhibition, games and master classes.
The grand opening took place in the hall of the INRTU. The significance of the event was emphasized by Stepan Bykov, the Vice Rector for International Affairs of the university:
"The People's Republic of China is our key partner. Most of our international students are from China. Two-thirds of our partners are from China, and 70% of the academic mobility of INRTU students involves travel to China.
The Chinese culture and art festival is being held for the fourth time. Each year it grows more popular among students and richer in Chinese cultural artifacts. Today, our two valued partners, with whom we carry out joint projects, have joined us as well. Among them are Hebei North University and Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology."
Stepan Bykov expressed hope that visitors would highly appreciate the beauty and richness of Chinese culture presented at the art fair.
Xia Shuang, Advisor to the Rector on Cooperation with China, addressed the participants:
"Every year, students study under academic mobility programs and undertake language internships in China. Moreover, chargeless Chinese language courses have been running at INRTU for the three years now, and soon a Tai Chi instructor will arrive from China. Tai Chi is an ancient martial art that will make PE classes more diverse."
Xia Shuang encouraged everyone to actively participate in the festival and have a good time.
The art fair had 12 zones, wh ere visitors could try on hanfu, paint theatrical masks, take part in calligraphy and imprinting master classes, enjoy a tea ceremony, and much more. The festive atmosphere was created by creative teams of the Center for Cultural and Educational Work, as well as INRTU’S Chinese students with creative performances.
Varvara Isakova, a 1st-year student of the School of Subsurface Resource Management, who is majoring in Minerals Processing, shared her impressions of the art fair:
"When I was a child, I often traveled to China with my parents. I really liked the country and began dreaming of living in China. After enrolling at INRTU and visiting the art fair, I realized that I could, for example, fulfill my wish and go on academic mobility to China.
The festival was organized at the highest level. Everything is very beautiful, impressive and, most importantly, informative. I managed to visit a master class on the ancient Chinese printing technique, which is over 1500 years old and is a part of the UNESCO heritage. A brush, a dabber, paper, paints, and stone slabs are all so fascinating. I also attended the tea ceremony and took some pictures with students from China."
The festival "On the Shores of Lake Baikal" continued with a master class on making moon cakes and a concert featuring students from Irkutsk and Chinese universities.
