It all starts with art

The different selections stirred up more discussions about art, including long-debated topics like what makes something art, whether there should be a value hierarchy in the arts, how art should be appreciated and what people can learn from their encounters with art.

"I think the beauty of art is that there is no right or wrong, and there are no limits," said Jiratchaya Phinyoworakul, a Thai student at Fudan University in Shanghai. "I found that China is very large and has a lot of ethnic minority groups and each minority group also has their own kinds of art that they enjoy."

To Lian Liia, a Russian student at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, art not only helps individuals become better versions of themselves but also fosters equal dialogue among diverse cultures and nations. "The standard of art is changing in art history, but one thing has never changed — people's pursuit of the truth, goodness and beauty," she said. In her view, art is also an indispensable element in achieving shared prosperity and collective progress for human civilization and society.

Meanwhile, there is an unavoidable topic when it comes to what makes art art: the reality that artificial intelligence — the likes of Open AI's ChatGPT — has demonstrated the ability to create a vast number of artworks in a short period of time without human involvement, prompting people to ponder the essence and future prospects of artistic creation. But Sun Yuxin, an undergraduate student at Hubei Institute of Fine Arts in Wuhan, Hubei province, doesn't see it as a problem or feel threatened by it.

"Artificial intelligence can be a good helper for art creators, assisting us in sharing the workload and saving time," he said. "AI's involvement in art creation will not diminish the vitality of art. Instead, it prompts society to pay greater attention to humanity and the emotions and reflections behind technology."

After coming to China to study art, these young people have developed unique understandings of Chinese art and culture, with some even planning to make it their lifelong career path.

"There is a lack of knowledge about China, especially in Europe and other Western countries. I have this opportunity to learn about China and study from Chinese sources. It's the most important thing," said Bruni. He hopes that he can be a bridge between Chinese and Western art.

Phinyoworakul, who has tens of thousands of followers on YouTube, regularly shares her experiences studying in China on her channel, including informative insights and opinions about Chinese art. "I want to talk more about Chinese art on my YouTube channel, for example, visiting art museums and art exhibitions in Shanghai," she said. "Maybe I will create a community of people who are interested in Chinese art as a hobby to foster an even greater love for Chinese art."