It’s June, and summer is coming as expected, with shady trees thriving and bright flowers blooming. On June 26, Prof. Dominique de Villepin will join us as a keynote speaker at the latest Online Art Classroom. He will share his insights into the nuances between western and Asian artistic styles, focusing on the upcoming changes in the art world and new aesthetic trends. Notably, he has decided to deliver this lecture in his private gallery, where he will also interpret his precious collections of works by Zao Wou-ki, one of the world’s most admired artists.

According to Prof. de Villepin, “Art collection goes beyond collecting artworks. Given the strong social function of art, we need to dig into not only the cultural background of each collection series, but also the role each artwork plays in collections.” The upcoming Online Art Classroom will for sure stretch our imaginations and make us an ardent lover of art, and meanwhile prompt us to venture forth with questions and new ideas.

Time: 20:00-21:30, June 26, 2020 (Friday)

Language: English & Chinese

Participants: CEIBS alumni and students

Platform: Zoom (It is advised to download the Zoom App in advance and update it to the latest version)

Keynote speaker: Dominique de Villepin

Distinguished Professor, CEIBS

Chair, CEIBS International Advisory Board

Former French Prime Minister

Since January 2018, Mr. Dominique de Villepin has served as Distinguished Professor at CEIBS. A well-known French diplomat, statesman and writer, he was former Foreign Minister (2002-2004), Interior Minister (2004-2005), and Prime Minister (2005-2007) of France.

As a diplomat, Prof. de Villepin often met with artists from all over the world to learn more about the world today and the power of art in connecting cultures. For more than 40 years, he has collected many masterpieces by top artists worldwide, especially those that fuse art, history, culture and geography, and has published a number of books on history, politics, painting and poetry. Besides, he has served as a board member for museums in Europe and the Middle East. He won a string of international awards, and regularly gives speeches at forums and conferences around the world.