Photo exhibition ‘Fusion Visions’ explores XJTLU’s past – and possible future

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) recently opened an AI-infused photo exhibition celebrating two decades of its “Syntegration+” educational practice, with contributions from alumni, students, staff, and the wider community.

The 20th Anniversary Visual Memory Photo Exhibition, themed “Fusion Visions”, traces the University’s growth since its 2006 founding while using AI to project how the campus might further integrate with surrounding Suzhou.

“Fusion lies at the heart of XJTLU. We fuse Chinese and Western educational philosophies, university and city development, academia and industry, and the humanities and technology,” Dr Xin Bi, XJTLU’s Chief Officer of Data and Director of the Centre for Knowledge and Information, said at the opening ceremony on 20 May.

“This exhibition invites people to look through the lens to see XJTLU’s diverse explorations in Syntegration+ over the past two decades and witness how the University has grown in harmony and shared prosperity with Suzhou,” he said.

Dr Xin Bi

Professor Simon Jones, Dean for XJTLU at the University of Liverpool, added that the images on show capture the University’s dynamic expansion as well as its determination to shape the future with a spirit of innovation.

The exhibition received more than 200 submissions from over 100 contributors including Zhiwei Zhou from the Suzhou Photographers Association; Shuangqi Du, an XJTLU staff member and alumna enrolled in 2016, who provided her wedding photos taken on campus; and alumnus and Design School technician Yifei Huang, who is also curating the second season of “Papers Published On Our Lands”, a project that invites everyone to step beyond their daily routines through a series of art installations on campus.

Professor Simon Jones

Yuyang Zhen

“This photo exhibition is another vivid example of the spirit of fusion through young perspectives,” said Yuyang Zhen, Deputy Director of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) Public Cultural Centre. “Each image tells the story of XJTLU’s growth, while also recording precious moments of mutual empowerment between the University and the city.”

The ceremony also marked the opening of “Time Trilogy”, featuring historical and recent photos of XJTLU and Suzhou, as well as AI-generated images predicting how both might look in 2046.

Professor Qiuling Chao, Vice President of XJTLU, presents certificates to “Future Visions” contributors (from centre left) Yifei Huang, Shuangqi Du, and Zhiwei Zhou

Jointly presented by XJTLU, the SIP Public Cultural Centre, and Suzhou Rail Transit, “Future Visions” is located at the Plaza of Honour on XJTLU’s South Campus, with additional displays at the Liverpool Pavilion on Central Campus, the Multimedia Centre at XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), the Art Gallery of XJTLU Affiliated School, and the Ren’ai Road and SIP Railway Station metro stations.

To view the works online, visit the XJTLU 20th Anniversary website.

By Wei Zhang

Translated by Xiangyin Han

Edited by staff editor and Xinmin Han