Tian Liming gives a lecture of the Chinese Culture Talk series, the appreciation of Chinese paintings in Philippines, Aug 10, 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

A new lecture of the Chinese Culture Talk series, "The Unity of Self and Nature-Appreciation of Chinese Paintings", was held twice, separately at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) in Malaysia on Aug 16-17.

The lecture was given by celebrated painter Tian Liming, director of the Chinese Painting Institute of Chinese National Academy of Arts. Organized by the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture of China and the Chinese Embassy to Malaysia, it was the first of the Chinese Culture Talk series in Malaysia.

Zhou Bin, director of the culture department of the Chinese Embassy to Malaysia, Datuk Ong, president of the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Lin Ronghua, LUCT's creative director, Tannaz Naseri, assistant to the LUCT's president, and some 300 institute representatives, local artists, collectors and students attended the lecture.

Tian introduced the origins, history and development of Chinese paintings through about 40 pieces of works. He gave a special note on the impact of Chinese painting on the earthly and spiritual life of Chinese people. After the lecture, attendees lined up to ask Tian to sign the postcards of his paintings.

Ong said ink painting is the symbol of the Chinese people, and a carrier of Chinese culture. It is an inheritance of culture and beauty and we need to pass the art down to the next generation. Tian's lecture let the locals in Malaysia get to know the beauty of traditional Chinese ink painting and Chinese ancestors' wisdom.

As the event was wrapped up in Malaysia, Tian's lecture tour in three countries, Philippines on Aug 10-11, Singapore on Aug 13, was finished.

Tian expressed his thanks for the invitation from the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture to give the Chinese Culture Talk series in three countries. He found many Chinese calligraphy and paintings lovers during the tour.

Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Culture, the Chinese Culture Talks are a series of high-level cultural and academic lectures. More than 40 lectures have been held in the US, France, Italy, Cambodia and Indonesia. The content varies from philosophy, religion, cultural heritage, literature and art, costume, cooking and Chinese medicine.