On September 20, Mr. Ken Malson, president of the Texas Sculpture Association and Association of Promotional Glass Artists, gave a lecture to students at Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) about making art, seeing art and getting a feel for what it takes to be an artist.

The lecture themed “Why Art-Making-Looking-Seeing” is held. [Photo/College of Design and Innovation]

Prof. Hu Jingxuan, deputy dean of College of Design and Innovation, thanked Mr. Malson for sharing his artistic career and gave a brief introduction to him. Mr. Malson is a multidisciplinary artist from Texas, USA, mainly working in sculpture, installation, collage and painting, and has won many international art awards. He came to Shenzhen in 2010 to work as a product development engineer in China, and then moved to New Who Art Village, Shenzhen to continue his art-making. He has held several solo exhibitions at the Luohu Art Museum and New Who Art Museum.

Prof. Hu Jingxuan (left) and Mr. Ken Malson (right) [Photo/College of Design and Innovation]

In this lecture, Mr. Malson discussed his own creative journey as an artist and creator, and his reflections and achievements along the way, giving insights on how to observe, how to think, and how to stimulate our creativity and then to create.

Mr. Ken Malson gives a presentation. [Photo/College of Design and Innovation]

He began the lecture by explaining the theme of his presentation and introduced this year’s new work combined with his own upbringing and background. He has been flexibly using any object around him as the inspiration and material for his creation to express his thoughts on life. By talking about the history, meaning and importance of art, he also explained that being an artist requires creativity and curiosity, and emphasized the significance of integrating art into life and living an artistic life.

Group photo [Photo/College of Design and Innovation]

During the Q&A session, Mr. Malson introduced New Who Art Village, an ancient Hakka village located in Longhua District of Shenzhen which is full of artists’ creativity and imagination.

Some of Mr. Ken Malson’s artworks [Photo/College of Design and Innovation]

Mr. Malson’s speech inspired the students to open their horizons of aesthetics and had a significant effect in improving the artistic appreciation, artistic creativity and even cultural competence of the students present.

Drafted by Tang Zhiwen（汤志文）/ College of Design and Innovation

Revised by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Edited by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office