Chinese art students should take more risks, says professor at university that helped form Alexander McQueen and Jimmy Choo
Art students from mainland China have a reputation for hard work and skilful techniques, but should have more confidence and take more risks, says a deputy vice-chancellor of a leading arts university in Europe.
“They are a little bit less confident because they always fear they will be examined on the quality of their works and compared with their masters,” said Professor Chris Wainwright, of the University of the Arts London (UAL). “But when they relax and get more confidence, they make fantastic work.”
Chinese education, which puts greater emphasis on scores and tests, is often criticised for ignoring creativity, but Professor Wainwright said it was the way of thinking, rather than the quality of the education, that should be questioned.
“The systems of learning in the UK and Europe are very different – students are encouraged to take more risks,” Wainwright said. “I always try to ask Chinese students to relax a bit and be more experimental. If they don’t produce a perfect [piece] but some interesting ideas, we can help them to develop those [ideas].”
Thanks to years of economic development, China’s creative industry has been growing fast in the past years – numerous theatres, art centres and design zones have been erected across the country, and the government is now turning its attention to the creative and innovation industries in an effort to restructure its economy amid concerns of an economic slowdown.
As China promotes its role in the creative industry, Wainwright said the public needed to be made aware of the economic value of the industry, such as the jobs and wealth it creates.
