On March 31, 2026, the Symposium on Art, Ecology and the Global South and International Communication Capacity Building in Higher Education was held at Nanjing University Xianlin Campus. The event focused on three themes: humanistic perspectives in area studies, practices of contemporary art and curation in the South, and international cooperation and digital approaches to heritage conservation. Wen Yu, Member of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee, Director of the Publicity Department, and Director of the United Front Work Department, attended and delivered a speech.
Wen noted that the event addresses pressing contemporary issues, emphasizing that art serves as a vital medium for raising awareness of ecological protection and disseminating the indigenous wisdom of the Global South. He further stated that, against the backdrop of the rise of the Global South, higher education institutions should construct a new framework for multipolar and equitable cross-cultural dialogue and enhance their capacity to tell compelling stories of China and the Global South.
The symposium featured three panel sessions, where domestic and international scholars and curators exchanged views on cutting-edge topics including Latin American art, eco-art studies, and the digital and intelligent protection of cultural heritage.
Joanna Page's report
Wang Ning's report
Su Pin's report
Wu Weiyi chairs the first session
Zhao Kuiying's report
Jiang Jun's report
Qi Xiaojin's report
Zhou Jiwu chairs the second session
Lu Andong's report
François Penz's report
The event was hosted by Nanjing University and Jiangsu Inter-University Association for the Development of International Communication, with the support and co-organization of multiple institutions. As an interdisciplinary event covering art studies, architecture, digital humanities and other fields, it has built a high-level platform for academic dialogue and represents a vivid practice for Nanjing University to deepen international cooperation and advance the international communication capacity in higher education.
Writer: Jia Hui
Editor: Wang Shuyi
