RAS Shanghai Lecture – 17 April – Shelly Bryant on the Traditional Chinese Garden

Posted: April 13th, 2012 | No Comments »

RAS LECTURE

Tuesday 17th April 2012 at 7.00pm

The Tavern, Radisson Blu Plaza Xingguo Hotel 78 Xingguo Road,Shanghai

兴国宾馆上海市兴国路78号

SHELLY BRYANT

ON

A Living Art Form: The Making of a Classical Chinese Garden

The Suzhou garden stands as the pinnacle of Chinese culture and refinement – a blend of the visual arts, philosophy and literature in the confines of a small physical space. Thus, to stroll through a Chinese garden is to immerse oneself in an elite expression of traditional Chinese culture. In contrast to the northern imperial gardens, the southern approach to landscaping that originated from the city of Suzhou and the surrounding area emphasizes poetry and art in a living space. “A Living Art Form: The Making of a Chinese Garden” will explore the rich traditions of Suzhou gardening that stretch back to the distant past, with the first private garden in Suzhou having belonged to the Wu Emperor in the Spring and Autumn period (600 BC). The construction of these leisure grounds culminated between the 16th and 18th centuries, when there were over 200 private gardens in Suzhou. The lecture will highlight the underlying philosophy of garden construction and explore the various techniques that have been used to bring that philosophy to life within the grounds of the classical Suzhou garden.

Shelly Bryant divides her year between Shanghai and Singapore, working as a teacher, writer, researcher and translator. She is the author of two volumes of poetry, Cyborg Chimera and Under the Ash, and a travel guide to Suzhou entitled Suzhou Basics. Her third volume of poetry, Voices of the Elders, and her travel memoir The End of the Line are slated for release in early 2012. Her most recent projects include writing an updated guide to the city of Shanghai for Urbanatomy and translating Sheng Keyi’s novel Northern Girls (北妹) for Penguin Books.

Shelly’s poetry has appeared in journals, magazines and websites around the world, as well as in several Shanghai-based art exhibitions, including dark ’til dawn, Things Disappear, and Studio White * Exhibition 2011.

Entrance: RMB 30.00 (RAS members) and RMB 80.00 (non-members). Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption, prior to the RAS Lecture. Membership applications and membership renewals will be available at this event.  Members will have priority booking until 14th April 2012.

To RSVP:  Please “Reply” to this email or write to

RAS Bookings at: bookings@royalasiaticsociety.org.cn

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