Da Vinci Talk was originally the name of an art salon I initiated in Guangzhou in 2019. The participants were mainly art university students and I encouraged art students to communicate with people of different disciplines, ages, and cultures. The salon was very successful and I was inspired by the students’ enthusiasm, so I curated the first Da Vinci Talk - Annual Art Exhibition by Chinese University Students in 2020 at the heart of Auckland, New Zealand.

Da Vinci Talk is a non-profit annual art exhibition especially established for Chinese university students (whether they are studying in China or overseas). The original intention of the exhibition was to encourage Chinese university students to use art to communicate with the world. However, after the success of our first art exhibition, I realised not only did the exhibition showcase the thoughts and perspectives of contemporary Chinese young people to overseas audiences, it also helped overseas audiences foster better understandings of contemporary China, which I was very pleased about.

 

Since its inception, Da Vinci Talk has received the support of many enthusiastic people and organisations, of which I am incredibly grateful. Da Vinci Talk’s philosophy is simple. As the curator, I hope to receive everyone’s continued interest and attention, so that this exhibition can be held year after year, giving young people the opportunity to exhibit their works. 

 

John Zeng

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达芬奇对话，最初是2019年我在广州发起的一个艺术沙龙的名字，参加者主要是读艺术的大学生。我鼓励艺术生与不同学科、不同年龄、不同文化的人士进行交流。沙龙非常成功，我从学生的热情反响中受到鼓舞，于是在2020年策展了第一届达芬奇对话海外画展，展览地点在新西兰的奥克兰市中心。

 

达芬奇对话海外画展是专门为中国籍大学生（无论是在国内还是海外留学的大学生）开设的一个非赢利的年度艺术展。展览的初衷，是鼓励中国的大学生用艺术与世界对话，然而，在第一届画展成功举办之后，我才发现，展览在向海外观众展示了当代中国年轻人的思想和面貌的同时，也促进了海外观众对当代中国的进一步了解，我对此感到欣慰。

 

达芬奇对话自诞生以来就受到众多热心人士和机构的支持，我心存感激。达芬奇对话的理念是简单朴素的，作为策展人，我希望得到大家的继续关注，让这个画展可以持续办下去，给年轻人多一个展示的机会。

 

小匡先生