"Suzhou is a beautiful city with a lot of antiquities and fantastic spots for tourists. But the main parts that make Suzhou are its people and their experiences, people coming and going and their pain, their happiness and their hopes." Dr Myria Christophini, a teacher at the Academy of Film and Creative Technology of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and a Cypriot artist, describes her understanding of Suzhou in this way.
On 26 July, at Suzhou H Plus Art Museum, citizens, students, and artists gathered around a 7-meter-long giant canvas to collaboratively paint their “Memories of Suzhou.” This community art workshop, titled “Drawn Here,” was curated by Dr Christophini in collaboration with Qinyao Shen, an outstanding graduate of XJTLU’s Arts, Technology and Entertainment with Contemporary Entrepreneurialism programme. Through this site-specific artistic practice, the workshop explored the profound connections between city, community, and individuals.
A dialogue on “people and the city”
Dr Christophini shared: "As a teacher of the Academy of Film and Creative Technology, I've been working with communities for a very long time. And when I was told that I need to do a workshop as part of my residency at the H Plus Museum. And it was just natural. This artist, who seamlessly integrates teaching with practice, is currently creating a series of paintings that document scenes of everyday life in Suzhou while weaving in her personal reflections. These works also incorporate her pedagogical insights from teaching at insights from teaching at XJTLU.
"So I wanted to create a workshop that reflects a connection between the individual and the public, " Dr Christophini noted. This approach aligns with the art education concepts she has long promoted in her teaching at XJTLU. " Suzhou is a beautiful city with a lot of antiquities and fantastic spots for tourists. But the main parts that make Suzhou are its people and their experiences, people coming and going and their pain, their happiness and their hopes. This is also what I want to tell my students."
"Art of the people": capturing Suzhou's warmth through the brush
At the event, when Dr Christophini invited participants to draw their "most beautiful memories of Suzhou" on the canvas, a mother who had just attended her daughter’s graduation ceremony tenderly sketched her daughter’s portrait and wrote the blessing: "Happy graduation, my dear!" Meanwhile, Jane, a young entrepreneur, expressed her aspirations for her career through a blooming iris—its petals unfurling as if brimming with infinite possibilities. These creations perfectly embodied Dr Christophini’s philosophy: "Art should belong to the people, be co-created with the people, and be made for the people."
Art heals the soul: unspoken stories and embraces on canvas
During a special segment of the event, Dr Christophini invited participants to depict "their most painful memories in Suzhou." A young girl quietly painted a swimming fish with soft yet melancholic brushstrokes. When sharing her work, she said, "I recently lost contact with my best friend... I wish I could be like this fish, with only seven seconds of memory, forgetting all unhappiness." This unexpected emotional moment hushed the room. Dr Christophini stepped forward and gently embraced her: "Sometimes, a painting is worth a thousand words." In that moment, the canvas became a silent yet powerful vessel for emotion.
Art as the bridge between people in Suzhou
As the event drew to a close, Dr Christophini invited all participants to envision and draw "Suzhou of the Future." On the canvas, some traced sleek, technological skylines in blue hues, while others depicted the scenic beauty of Lake Tai. Yet one work stood out—former art professional Ms Cui chose not to paint urban landscapes. Instead, she used fluid, interwoven lines and warm colour blocks to portray people embracing and holding hands. "No matter how Suzhou changes in the future," she shared, "human connection will always matter most. And thank you for today’s event—through art, we’ve truly seen one another."
Moving forward, this monumental canvas—imbued with the emotions and visions of artist Dr Christophini, XJTLU students, and Suzhou residents—will be exhibited at H Plus Art Museum. More than just an artistic achievement, it stands as the most vivid testament to the "Drawn Here" workshop, silently narrating how art weaves individual memories into a city’s collective story, while radiating warmth and strength through collaborative creation.
By Jiaying Zhang
Edited by Wenzhen Li
Photos courtesy of H+ Museum
