During the fascinating season – Tianjin University’s Crabapple Season, a great many people were attracted by Crabapple blossoms and various activities held on campus. During the Season, most people received lovely souvenirs from different booths dotted around school. These gifts were postcards which recorded the beauty of Tianjin University, and the most prominent postcards given out were designed by Zhang Erke. 

The postcard designed by Zhang Erke 

Zhang Erke, an Environmental Design undergraduate from the School of Architecture, was the winner of 2017 Crabapple Season Postcard Collection activity after his work topped a campus-wdie poll. He had been used to collecting Crabapple Season postcards every year, but now he has gone from collector to designer. The crabapple blossoms and the days of the Crabapple Season have impressed him greatly and have left many precious memories. 

When talking about the reasons why he wanted to participate in the Crabapple Season postcard collection activity, Zhang Erke said he wished to be able to add a touch of gorgeous color to the Crabapple Season this year, to this colorful spring, and to all the flowers blooming on campus. Since he was admitted to Tianjin University in 2015, he has felt that this university will give him exactly what he expected of it. He believes Tianjin University will help him to be a better person, living up to his dreams. Last Crabapple Season, he was also in Mingde Road, where the flying crabapple petals blew in the wind and turned the world pink. He was enchanted by the atmosphere and the crabapple blossoms, and the scene lingered long in his mind. 

There are hardship and difficulties behind every work of art, and his is no different. Zhang shared the design process and his results with us. He modified the design many times before it finally took shape. The current postcard we saw is his second design, for the first version was rejected. On the postcard there are crabapple blossoms in full bloom, the representative building of Tianjin University - No.9 building, the school badge, and our "beautiful" campus belle Hai Xiaotang. For color matching Zhang adopted the style of a famous painting which he admires so much. It not only embodies the beauty of full-blown crabapple flowers, but also incorporates the characteristics of Tianjin University. 

Zhang Erke’s design 

In the design process, many people helped provided assistance, and he is very grateful to his teachers Zhao Wei and Li Jinfu. He asked them for suggestions and after considering all their advice, many amendments were made and he completed the final version of the Crabapple Season postcard. He really appreciated their help as well as the students who support and enjoy his work. Zhu Huan, another piece of artwork designed by Zhang Erke and a team won third place in the Louna International Academic Construction Competition.  

As a student of architecture, Zhang’s painting and design ability is there for all to see. In addition, he also has many other interests in life. He enjoys photography and making coffee. He said “I pay attention to multi-sided development because it is interesting and will be a great help after entering society in the future”. 

By: Hu Cailing 

Editors: Qin Mian and Christopher Peter Clarke