In order to give students a more intuitive understanding of the creation process of artworks and a hands-on art experience that combines theory and practice,On October 9, 2024, 40 art graduate and postgraduate students from the Faculty of Innovative and Design at the City University of Macau, listened and watched the Xinlin Ma's lecture on flower and bird painting creation. The lecture was delivered by Professor Xinlin Ma, with Associate Professor Wang Ziwei serving as the academic host. Professor Ma is Professor and doctoral supervisor at the Faculty of Innovative and Design at the City University of Macau, special researcher for the State Council Consultation Service, a special researcher for the Central Institute of History and Literature of the State Council, the group leader of the appraisal expert group for modern and contemporary art collections at the National Museum of China, the vice president of the China Calligraphy and Painting Collectors Association.

  Fisrt of all, Professor Ma introduced the history, techniques, and aesthetic features of flower and bird painting, allowing students to understand the profound cultural heritage of traditional art forms; then he focused on the creative process of flower and bird painting and drew a horizontal scroll painting on the spot, choosing red persimmons and a flock of sparrows as the subject matter, symbolizing the abundant teaching achievements; and during the real-time creative demonstration, he gradually showed every creative step from conception to completion, shared the tools and materials used, and helped students gain a deeper understanding of the techniques and concepts behind the creation.

  In the lecture, Professor Ma, with his profound painting skills and unique artistic insights, explained the historical evolution, technical features, and cultural connotations of bird-and-flower painting in a simple and easy-to-understand manner, enabling the students present to not only appreciate the unique idyllic charm of bird-and-flower painting but also understand the philosophical ideas and aesthetic nuances behind it. He introduced and explained many aesthetic categories such as "rhythm" "yin-yang transformation" "selection and elimination" "the perspective of the other" and "aesthetic distance."

At the same time, he encouraged students to be bold in trying new creative techniques and styles, continuously exploring their own artistic paths, allowing everyone to experience the essence of " Spirit of the form" in Chinese painting. At the end of the lecture, Professor Xinlin Ma demonstrated calligraphy works in two different fonts on site for the students of the college. Whether it's the intensity of the strokes or the structure and layout of the characters, every detail demonstrates his profound understanding of calligraphy art. This lecture provided students with a deep understanding of the creative process of a flower and bird painting and the unique aesthetic system behind it. It deepened their understanding of the cultural heritage of Chinese painting and promoted the academic atmosphere within the college. It was a valuable opportunity for academic exchange between teachers and students in our college.