Chinese architects among host of international exhibitors
Published On Thu 23 May 2019 by Grant Hill
More than 350 students from 21 countries spread across three continents are exhibiting at the 2019 Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and Architecture Degree Show, which runs until Sunday.
China is one of the most highly represented countries at the exhibition, thanks in part to a pioneering partnership between the University of Dundee and Wuhan University, one of the top higher education institutions in China. This agreement sees dozens of students from Wuhan complete the final year of their architecture degree at the University with many opting to remain at Dundee for a further year to obtain their Masters qualification.
This year, 14 Wuhan students have successfully completed their Masters and are exhibiting their work at Degree Show alongside their classmates having set their minds to a range of challenges including community participation in planning and the future development of the cities of Mainz and Shanghai.
The unifying ethos of the partnership is the creation of responsive and sustainable architecture. The exposure to different cultures and urban environments helps the students in this regard, according to Dundee-Wuhan programme leader Penny Lewis.
She said, “Design teaching in China is different, so it is incredibly beneficial for our Wuhan students to be exposed to new learning styles and our students from Scotland benefit from the fresh perspective and new ideas that Wuhan students bring with them.
“The studio culture at Dundee is quite a new experience for them and they really appreciate the opportunity to work both independently and alongside peers on the most important issues facing architects and planners today.
“Half of the Wuhan students who graduated last year chose to continue studying in Dundee for their Masters year, which is testament to their experience here. They enjoy the flexible learning programme, which allows a lot of choice in the units they study.”
The architects, artists and designers exhibiting at this year’s Degree Show have come to Dundee from Asia, Europe and North America and have collectively produced visually stunning and thought-provoking artwork as well as design that seeks to solve some of society’s biggest problems.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and Architecture Degree Show is always a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar but with this year’s exhibition being the first to take place since the opening of V&A Dundee, 18-26 May represents Dundee’s biggest week of art and design to date.
Last year’s exhibition attracted a record attendance of 16,000, generating in excess of £1.5 million for the local economy. With Dundee enjoying a tourism boom on the back of the opening of V&A Dundee and other venues hosting exhibitions and events, the city is in the midst of a major celebration of culture this week.
Degree Show opened a month after the launch of Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt, V&A Dundee’s second touring exhibition. Dundee Design Festival is hosting a programme of design-focused events and workshops inside the Keiller Shopping Centre while other exhibitions taking place include those at Dundee Contemporary Arts and The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum.
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