This lecture will examine how the intersections of art, architecture, philosophy and sensory experience of Chinese gardens show continuity and change from the early modern period to the present day. In early modern China, gardens were more than places of retreat, they functioned as major social, cultural and economic sites. In our time of ecological crisis, gardens play a crucial role in mitigating pollution. This lecture is p...
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In 19th-century China, gardens in southern China were designed to serve as an emblem of their owners’ taste and social status. In our time of climate change, international artists play an active role in tackling China’s environmental pollution by designing gardens in urban centres. For example, American artist Betsy Damon in the late 1990s designed China’s first urban park functioning as a water purification system in the city of Chengdu for visitors to experience how nature cleanses polluted river water.
In 2024, Hong Kong-based artist Zheng Bo designed a bamboo garden in the courtyard of Somerset House in central London, which created a space for audiences to contemplate and engage with nature. This short course will discuss the evolution of garden art from early modern to contemporary China.
What will we cover?
An exploration of three key gardens from two different periods, including those designed by Betsy Damon and Zheng Bo.
An introduction to the development of garden art in China in relation to the philosophy of nature.
The socio-cultural and environmental impact on the perceptions of Chinese garden art.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Describe three gardens in early modern and contemporary China in detail.
Understand the meanings, aesthetic value and functions of Chinese gardens.
Identify key art-historical discourses associated with Chinese gardens.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please click here.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with lecture and slide presentations.
Please note: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Search for 'Friday Lates' or 'lunchtime lectures' for more courses like this one.
Xinrui Zhang completed her PhD in History of Art at the University of York. She specialises in art and landscape architecture in China from a global perspective, with a focus on the contemporary period. She has taught art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, SOAS and York. She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She holds an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld and a BA in History of Art (Asia, Africa and Europe) from SOAS. Before starting her PhD, she worked as a curator in London and previously worked at Christie’s.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/the-art-of-chinese-gardens-nature-and-philosophy2268844The art of Chinese gardens: nature and philosophyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb263-1080.jpg00GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Art, ideas & theory/Courses/Online courses228511361177188317311228511771136<p>This lecture will examine how the intersections of art, architecture, philosophy and sensory experience of Chinese gardens show continuity and change from the early modern period to the present day. In early modern China, gardens were more than places of retreat, they functioned as major social, cultural and economic sites. In our time of ecological crisis, gardens play a crucial role in mitigating pollution. <strong>This lecture is part of the <a href="https://festival.forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 Art History Festival</a> organised by the <a href="https://forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Association for Art History</a>.</strong></p>003084532The art of Chinese gardens: nature and philosophy00https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb263-1080_2.jpgInStockEveningTueOnlineAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekday2026-10-06T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allOct 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB26300The art of Chinese gardens: nature and philosophy000Xinrui Zhangthe-art-of-chinese-gardens-nature-and-philosophy/vb263-2627<p>This lecture will examine how the intersections of art, architecture, philosophy and sensory experience of Chinese gardens show continuity and change from the early modern period to the present day. In early modern China, gardens were more than places of retreat, they functioned as major social, cultural and economic sites. In our time of ecological crisis, gardens play a crucial role in mitigating pollution. <strong>This lecture is part of the <a href="https://festival.forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 Art History Festival</a> organised by the <a href="https://forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Association for Art History</a>.</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-10-06 00:00:00<p>In 19th-century China, gardens in southern China were designed to serve as an emblem of their owners’ taste and social status. In our time of climate change, international artists play an active role in tackling China’s environmental pollution by designing gardens in urban centres. For example, American artist Betsy Damon in the late 1990s designed China’s first urban park functioning as a water purification system in the city of Chengdu for visitors to experience how nature cleanses polluted river water.</p><p>In 2024, Hong Kong-based artist Zheng Bo designed a bamboo garden in the courtyard of Somerset House in central London, which created a space for audiences to contemplate and engage with nature. This short course will discuss the evolution of garden art from early modern to contemporary China. </p><p> </p><p>This lecture will examine how the intersections of art, architecture, philosophy and sensory experience of Chinese gardens show continuity and change from the early modern period to the present day. In early modern China, gardens were more than places of retreat, they functioned as major social, cultural and economic sites. In our time of ecological crisis, gardens play a crucial role in mitigating pollution. <strong>This lecture is part of the <a href="https://festival.forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 Art History Festival</a> organised by the <a href="https://forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Association for Art History</a>.</strong></p><ul><li><p>An exploration of three key gardens from two different periods, including those designed by Betsy Damon and Zheng Bo. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>An introduction to the development of garden art in China in relation to the philosophy of nature. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The socio-cultural and environmental impact on the perceptions of Chinese garden art. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Describe three gardens in early modern and contemporary China in detail. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Understand the meanings, aesthetic value and functions of Chinese gardens. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Identify key art-historical discourses associated with Chinese gardens. </p></li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11281000258205-Zoom-joining-a-class-Step-by-Step-Guidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with lecture and slide presentations.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>There are no additional costs.</p><p>Search for 'Friday Lates' or 'lunchtime lectures' for more courses like this one.</p><p>20 Contemporary artists you should know</p>Art historyArt, ideas & theoryvirtual000VB263NONETue06/10/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:301 session1One-off onlyWeekdayOnlineOnlineXinrui ZhangBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-10-06T00:00:00+00:00EveningOct 2026Culture, history & humanities00The art of Chinese gardens: nature and philosophythe-art-of-chinese-gardens-nature-and-philosophy/vb263-2627<p>This lecture will examine how the intersections of art, architecture, philosophy and sensory experience of Chinese gardens show continuity and change from the early modern period to the present day. In early modern China, gardens were more than places of retreat, they functioned as major social, cultural and economic sites. In our time of ecological crisis, gardens play a crucial role in mitigating pollution. <strong>This lecture is part of the <a href="https://festival.forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 Art History Festival</a> organised by the <a href="https://forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Association for Art History</a>.</strong></p>0000-Available|2026-10-06 00:00:00<p>In 19th-century China, gardens in southern China were designed to serve as an emblem of their owners’ taste and social status. In our time of climate change, international artists play an active role in tackling China’s environmental pollution by designing gardens in urban centres. For example, American artist Betsy Damon in the late 1990s designed China’s first urban park functioning as a water purification system in the city of Chengdu for visitors to experience how nature cleanses polluted river water.</p><p>In 2024, Hong Kong-based artist Zheng Bo designed a bamboo garden in the courtyard of Somerset House in central London, which created a space for audiences to contemplate and engage with nature. This short course will discuss the evolution of garden art from early modern to contemporary China. </p><p> </p><p>This lecture will examine how the intersections of art, architecture, philosophy and sensory experience of Chinese gardens show continuity and change from the early modern period to the present day. In early modern China, gardens were more than places of retreat, they functioned as major social, cultural and economic sites. In our time of ecological crisis, gardens play a crucial role in mitigating pollution. <strong>This lecture is part of the <a href="https://festival.forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 Art History Festival</a> organised by the <a href="https://forarthistory.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Association for Art History</a>.</strong></p><ul><li><p>An exploration of three key gardens from two different periods, including those designed by Betsy Damon and Zheng Bo. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>An introduction to the development of garden art in China in relation to the philosophy of nature. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>The socio-cultural and environmental impact on the perceptions of Chinese garden art. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Describe three gardens in early modern and contemporary China in detail. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Understand the meanings, aesthetic value and functions of Chinese gardens. </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Identify key art-historical discourses associated with Chinese gardens. </p></li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels and requires no previous experience or study of the subject.</p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. This course takes place on Zoom. Please be familiar with or be willing to learn how to operate elements of Zoom, specifically camera, microphone and chat functions. For more on how our online learning works, please <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11281000258205-Zoom-joining-a-class-Step-by-Step-Guidance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with lecture and slide presentations.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>There are no additional costs.</p><p>Search for 'Friday Lates' or 'lunchtime lectures' for more courses like this one.</p><p>20 Contemporary artists you should know</p>Art historyArt, ideas & theoryconfigurable
18831136Art, ideas & theoryhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/art-ideas-theory1/2/285/1177/1136/18831/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Art, ideas & theory
