On the evening of March 15, the renowned photographer Ms. Wang Xiaohui kept her appointment with the CEIBS EMBA06 new students. She was here to give her speech as part of the CEIBS Executive Forum on Culture and Arts during the EMBA 06 "Residency Week". She shared with the EMBA students her perception of art and life over the years.
Charm has nothing to do with age
Some students described Wang Xiaohui as a "reborn flower", as she was glowing with charm through all these years of various experience. Wang laughed, "As I said before, if a woman is really charming, she's charming at any age of life, even as she gets old, while an unattractive woman could be mediocre even at a young age. I've been taking to Audrey Hepburn. I think she's like a rose, beautiful when in bud, in full bloom, and even when withered. I have a collection of flowers I used to shoot, all withered and faded but still very beautiful. I still do not want to give them up."
60% of success in art depends on gift
As known to all, inspiration and gift are required for an artist; while in the meantime, diligence is also necessary. Many would like to find out if the success of an artist depends more on diligence or gift. As a successful artist, the answer to this question from Wang Xiaohui was "Gift is definitely the first and foremost for an artist. Without gift, diligence will lead to nothing. Diligence may make a talent of some other profession, but gift only takes 60% of the success of an artist. Diligence may take 20%. Another 20% I think is opportunity. Opportunity is really very important. In places like New York and Paris, artists are like sands by the sea. Chances are small that you are discovered and appreciated by people."
Compliment on the beauty of CEIBS campus
When asked by some students of her comments on CEIBS campus designed by the architectural firm of Ioeh Ming Pei, whose best-known works include the expansion works of Louvre Museum in Paris, Wang Xiaohui said, "It was already dark when I came here. I passed some water on roadside, and then entered the lounge. I've had a very good impression on the whole. First, I've always loved the works of Mr. I. M. Pei, and I think I. M. Pei is really a great architect. His works are very simple; while simplicity is an artistic direction I really appreciate. Besides, there're usually Chinese elements in his works, and Western elements as well. What's more, I like water, which is very spiritual. What I've seen so far has already made me like it. So at the same time you enjoy the good teaching of CEIBS, the beautiful campus is probably adding value to you."
The seats of the CEIBS Shanghai Petrochemical Auditorium were all occupied in that evening, and applause burst out now and then. The philosophy of Wang Xiaohui, as well as her art had obtained the recognition and appreciation of students. Professor Liang Neng, Director of CEIBS EMBA Programme, expressed his opinion that "As a world class business school, the EMBA programme of CEIBS should not only offer business education, but also cultivate the soul of managers. However, no one knows for sure whether the soul could be molded, or whether leadership could be nurtured. We have no idea, but we're still trying hard to reach our goal by inviting great artists to CEIBS forum. We hope our students not only learn business management knowledge, but also have good cultural and moral qualities, and good personality. We've organized the culture and art lectures, inviting the greatest artists of China, in hopes of helping our EMBA students in improving their humanistic and artistic accomplishment."
