Nov.26,2009
At 7 p.m. on Nov. 14th, Room 223 of International Conference Center in Zhejiang University (ZJU) witnessed the
grand opening of “West Lake Waiting and Zhejiang University Approaching—A Conversation with ZJU Students
about the stories hided in Hangzhou old photos”. This activity was a part of the serial cultural activities of “West
Lake Waiting”, Hangzhou, 2009, and also the first session of Zhejiang University’s 20th International Cultural
Festival. The photos displayed showed the appearance of then Hangzhou in its late 19th century and early 20th
century.
There have been 8 years since “West Lake Waiting” started to be held in Hangzhou in 2002. In the past years,
many well-known artists both at home and abroad were invited successively to discuss the creation of fine works
collection. Shen Hong Studio of SIS participated energetically and cooperated with Hangzhou Tang Yun Art
Museum this year to held the activity of “A Conversation with ZJU Students about the Stories hided in Hangzhou
Old Photos”. This old photo exhibition was intitled “1925: Benjamin March's Honeymoon in Hangzhou”,
including their 70 or so photos and diary which recorded their honeymoon in Hangzhou in 1925. There were about
120 other old photos as well, which respectively displayed the original Hangzhou in late 19th century and early
20th century. The exhibition of those old photos was an important part of “West Lake Waiting” and will be
directly used to help the government and Park Culture Office of Hangzhou in the renovation of West Lake and
application for the World Cultural Heritage.
Shen Hong Studio always dedicates itself to the cultural communication between China and the World and the
exploration of historic culture. This time the studio took the lead and cooperated with Tang Yun Art Museum to
bring a lively dialogue between scholars and students to ZJU through this activity. The main scholars were
Dr. Bruce MacLaren, deputy director of Chinese Art Department of the Peabody Essex Museum and Dr. David
Hogge, the responsible officer of the Ministry of Documents of Freer Gallery at American Smithsonian Institution
(National Museum) and Ms. Cheng Weina, the curator assistant of Freer Gallery. Centering on the old photos,
Hangzhou’s history and culture were discussed deeply. Even some elderly professors who have retired from ZJU
for many years, some experts who have done deep researches on Hangzhou’s history during the Southern Song
Dynasty, and those Hangzhounese who concerned about cultures attended and shared their profound
understanding with scholars and the audience. The conversation could be called a colorful forum on Hangzhou’s
history and culture.
(Translated by TONG Shan)
