On December 4, the fifth annual exhibition of the Tianjin University Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Society, part of the “Art Exhibition in Residential Colleges” series, opened at the Pengxiang Apartment Student Community on the Weijin Road campus. Nearly 100 artworks were brought directly into students’ living spaces, fostering a vibrant cultural atmosphere on campus.

Co-hosted by the School of Humanities and Arts, the Student Affairs Department, and the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Society, the event aims to enhance the integrated student community. This initiative combines living, learning, and cultural engagement into a seamless environment to enhance holistic student development, cultural education, and a rich artistic environment within the university.

The exhibition featured Chinese paintings, oil paintings, and calligraphy works, including themes such as flowers, landscapes, and portraits. Most pieces were created by Tianjin University faculty, alumni, and artists from institutions across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The artworks reflect the spirit of the times, celebrating the beauty of life and expressing enthusiasm for the new era.

Artists also collaborated with students to create traditional calligraphy, writing “Fu” characters, which symbolize blessings and good fortune in Chinese culture, to welcome the New Year. Liu Kai, a graduate student, shared, “This exhibition brings art closer to us. We don’t have to visit a gallery; instead, we can engage with art in our daily lives, making it a real and accessible part of our routines.”

As a pilot university for the Ministry of Education's “Integrated Student Community” initiative, Tianjin University integrates art into students’ communities, fostering cultural identity and inspiring confidence in Chinese cultural traditions. Students expressed their enthusiasm, saying, “Art is a refreshing escape, enriching our spirits and adding color to our academic lives.”

By: Qin Mian