Historian Dr Joseph S.P. Ting leads students to explore Chinese history with PolyU Artists’ Alliance’s first programme “Hong Kong People's Ancestral Origins”

To enhance the University community’s appreciation of Chinese culture and history, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has established the PolyU Artists’ Alliance (the Alliance). Curated by Alliance member Dr Joseph S.P. TING, also PolyU Historian-in-Residence and former Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History, the inaugural programme, flagship historical exploration series “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins”, leads students in exploring historical stories of Guangdong and Hong Kong through thematic talks and site visits. With the support of Dr Liza WANG, Convener of the Alliance, guests, students and alumni, the first talk of the programme was successfully held on 19 September.

Established in April this year, the Alliance comprises leading figures and prominent experts in the arts and culture sector in Hong Kong and the Mainland. Aiming to promote the arts and cultural environment of the campus and nurture a younger generation who possesses a strong sense of national identity, it proactively forges collaboration with practitioners in the sector and co-organise activities such as exchanges and public lectures. It also offers advice regarding admission to PolyU of talents in relevant fields.

Members of the Alliance represent various domains of art and culture including the performing arts, visual arts, intangible cultural heritage, Chinese history, Chinese literature as well as film and creative media. Among them, many are current and past PolyU Artists-in-Residence who have long supported the University, as detailed in the attachment.

The first chapter of “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins” series, “Explore the Historical Stories of Guangzhou”, commenced with a prelude talk by Dr Ting. During the talk, Dr Ting presented Guangzhou as a renowned city of Lingnan culture with rich history and shed light on the close ties between Guangzhou and Hong Kong from historical and geographical perspectives.

To deepen students’ understanding of Guangzhou’s history and the connection between Guangzhou and Hong Kong, Dr Ting, together with Dr Liza Wang, will lead a group of PolyU students to Guangzhou at the end of the month. They will visit local museums and historical sites, including the Nanhai God Temple, Thirteen Hongs Museum, former Whampoa Military Academy, Museum of the Peasant Movement Institute, Chinese Artists Association, Zhenhai Tower and the Liberation Monument in Yuexiu Mountain.

After the focus on Guangzhou, the “Hong Kong People’s Ancestral Origins” series will put the spotlight on Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Macau to explore the Xiangshan Culture formed uniquely in these three cities and their coordinated development with Hong Kong. The thematic talk and site visits will be held in November.

***End***