Strolling through Zijingang Campus in traditional paintings: A fusion of art and heritage

How can the contemporary landscape of Zijingang Campus be captured through the brushstrokes of traditional art?  

Inside the serene halls of the Crescent Building, dozens of exquisite paintings are on display, immersing visitors in their artistic charm. This exhibition, part of the Traditional Patterns course offered by the School of Art and Archaeology at Zhejiang University under the guidance of Professor HU Xiaojun, invites visitors on a journey of artistic discovery. Under the theme Sketching Zijingang Campus, students have skillfully woven the campus’s imposing architecture and tranquil scenery with the intricate beauty of traditional Chinese motifs. With delicate brushwork and vivid imagination, they breathe life into a canvas where tradition and modernity meet.

The multiple faces of the Starlight Lantern

The Starlight Lantern, which lights up only on special occasions, is inscribed with profound significance for every member of the Zhejiang University community. More than just a beacon, it is a symbol woven into the fabric of campus life — a silent witness to countless moments of aspiration and achievement. In their paintings inspired by this iconic light, students offer diverse interpretations, each reflecting their personal connection to its radiant glow.

For TUO Mengyuan, the lantern becomes the heart of a cosmic balance. Drawing inspiration from the yin-yang symbol, placing the Starlight Lantern at the golden ratio of the composition — a purposeful choice that speaks to both harmony and brilliance. “The Starlight Lantern not only symbolizes the brilliance and wisdom of Zhejiang University but also bears witness to my daily academic life, carrying my deep affection for the university,” she explains. Surrounding the lantern are a mystical bird (a symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom), the moon, and stars. These elements not only enhance the harmony and dynamism of the painting but also reflect the relentless pursuit of dreams that define the Zhejiang University spirit.

To capture the unique tranquility and beauty of Zijingang Campus at night, DA Le casts the Starlight Lantern as a secondary focal point, nestled among the silhouettes of familiar landmark buildings. Layers of soft cloud patterns add a touch of dreamlike romance, while the deep blue tones evoke mystery, accented by distant golden hues. “Through this painting, I hope to send my wishes to every ZJUer,” DA Le shares. “May you soar like birds, fearless and free, in pursuit of the passions that set your hearts alight.”

Meanwhile, JIANG Wenqian reimagines the lantern in conversation with the university’s modern architecture — melding its glow with the gymnasium, the main library, and the red-brick buildings of the western district. Through traditional patterns, she infuses these modern structures with a tinge of classical beauty.

Impressions of Zijingang Campus in brushstrokes

In one painting, an ancient scroll unfolds like a whispered story from the past, revealing Qiushi Ding (a ceremonial cauldron), golden osmanthus blossoms, and a dragon boat as the central elements. Water cascades from the edges of the scroll, adding a sense of motion, while in the distant background, the outline of Qiushi Lecture Hall glimmers faintly in gold, its subtle glow wrapped in an air of auspicious mystery.

“This painting not only reflects my impressions of Zijingang, but also conveys my heartfelt wishes for the harmony and beauty of my alma mater,” says YAN Entong. By anchoring the composition around the unfolding scroll, he guides the viewer’s gaze and adds depth to the composition. The cauldron and scroll, rich in cultural significance, speak of ancient Chinese craftsmanship, perfectly weaving tradition into the fabric of modern campus life.

For LIU Yiling, art becomes a diary of daily moments — ach brushstroke rooted in the rhythms of her life on Zijingang Campus. Her painting features familiar landmarks: the Crescent Building she passes every day, the elegant swans gliding across Qizhen Lake, the stately gate of Qiushi Academy, and the lush lotus leaves and flowers that paint the campus in vibrant hues each summer. “These elements are the threads of my university life,” she reflects. “Whenever I see them, I recall the stories I’ve shared with them,” she says. Her use of blue and green tones reflects the rhythm and modernity of life on Zijingang Campus.

GAO Zhe, drawing inspiration from Chinese landscape paintings, chooses to dissolve the conventions of perspective. In his work, buildings shed their three-dimensional forms, abstracted into flat planes layered like drifting clouds, with spatial depth emerging from their gentle overlaps. Qizhen Lake transforms into a shimmering plane filled with water ripples, while the Starlight Lantern, glowing softly in the upper right corner, takes on the role of a symbolic sun. The copper gate of Qiushi Academy is cropped to balance the composition, and the lotus flowers of Qizhen Lake are framed within the gate.

In CAO Yuchen’s creation, Anzhong Building, the main library, and Qiushi Lecture Hall are depicted with a sense of transcending time. Against the powerful inscription “embracing rivers and seas,” he uses blocks of color to embed Zijingang’s iconic buildings and traditional auspicious patterns, merging the campus’s architecture with classical motifs.

Copying, contemplating, refining

Before setting brush to paper, the students embarked on a special tour around Zijingang Campus. Guided by Professor HU Xiaojun, they wandered among the campus’s architectural landmarks, pausing to observe ordinary scenes from unexpected angles, discovering beauty hidden in plain sight. At the Zhejiang University Museum of Art and Archaeology, they perused A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings. There, amidst the delicate brushwork and timeless compositions, they glimpsed something profound — the modern spirit woven into the heart of traditional Chinese art.

“Professor Hu shared his profound impressions of Zijingang Campus during our tour” recalls Yan Entong. “His words helped clarify my ideas for the composition.”  

In the Traditional Patterns course, the students immersed themselves in more than just esthetics. They traced the intricate lines of Chinese artistic heritage, studying Chinese artistic classics, while also exploring the theories and methods of Western modernist painting. Over the course of a short semester, they learned to balance these dual influences, gradually mastering what Professor Hu describes as “Eastern observation methods and Chinese-style sketching” and constantly practicing the approach of “copying, contemplating, and refining.”

The course introduced them to traditional patterns and elements like mystical birds, stars, and auspicious cranes, providing rich material for their creations. For instance, the branch technique in TUO Mengyuan’s Starlight Over Zijingang was inspired by traditional Chinese paintings she studied in class. In Weaving Dreams of Zijingang, GAO Zhe fuses Western geometric abstraction with the scattered perspective of Chinese landscape art, assembling the campus’s iconic buildings like fragments of a vivid memory.

The final chapter of the course, Sketching Zijingang Campus, presented the greatest challenge: how to transform the familiar into something new. For many students, capturing the essence of their beloved campus while weaving in traditional artistic elements was both daunting and exhilarating. JIANG Wenqian carefully observed the architectural patterns on Zijingang Campus and enriched them with techniques learned in class. TUO Mengyuan conducted extensive research and fieldwork to achieve her desired effect. “Painting requires patience and a calm mind, which is a form of discipline for us,” she notes.

Through careful observation, thoughtful synthesis, and creative exploration, the students breathed new life into traditional patterns, allowing them to flourish against the backdrop of modern Zijingang Campus. In turn, the campus itself — its buildings, its landscapes, its fleeting moments — was reimagined and revitalized through the lens of ancient artistry.

With brushes as bridges, these students continue to traverse the space between past and present, tradition and innovation, discovering with each stroke that creativity knows no bounds.

Adapted and translated from the article by DING Yue
Translator: FANG Fumin  
Photo: the interviewees     
Editor: TIAN Minjie