The Masters Return

An Appointment with the Masters

Wading through the tide of time, the Masters are back, arriving here at CUHK-Shenzhen.

The Masters, a respectful title, a documentary, which is also extended to a multi-media tribute exhibition The Masters Return that has toured more than ten cities in China. In this exhibition, the lives of twenty masters unfold before us. Seeing the exhibition is like reading a stack of letters from the Republican era, straight from these respectable people’s hearts; it is as if they are still educating Chinese people, vibrantly and composed.

The Masters learned from the past and the present, drawing insights from diverse cultures. Looking into the past, we can know one thing is true. If education was booming, talents could still arise, people could thrive, and the nation could get stronger amid wars and chaos. On the other hand, if education declined, the nation would be confused and weak, its future doomed and gloomed, even though the period was peaceful and filled with good times.

The most significant philanthropy is education, especially in times of war. In wartime, securing a school desk means securing many future generations; talents are like springs preventing their homeland from drying up.

This tribute exhibition The Masters Return has three sections, displaying the stories of the Masters, old magazines, and old textbooks. The exhibition utilizes various forms of presentation, such as physical objects, videos, and lectures, adopting internet technology as an aid. Despite their stark differences, the images, calligraphy works, books, magazines, journals, documentaries, and cartoons on display are closely connected. These Masters were protectors of Chinese education and culture, warriors that stayed elegant and self-possessed in the years of chaos – wise, well-read, and open-minded.   

The unknown path where the Masters treaded a century ago became where the latecomers stand.

As they fade out into the past, our nation stepped into the light.