A group photo of guests at the exhibition's opening ceremony. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]
Zhengzhou University (ZZU) recently presented its exhibition "Between Form and Meaning: A Contemporary Dialogue with Chinese Characters" at the 2026 Milan Design Week. This marks the third consecutive year that the university has participated in this prestigious international event.
The exhibition featured 22 creative design works and 22 calligraphy pieces. The designs drew inspiration from Henan's cultural heritage, including oracle bone inscriptions, Yangshao pottery patterns, and intangible cultural traditions. The calligraphy section displayed all five traditional scripts — seal, clerical, regular, running, and cursive — demonstrating the elegance of Central Plains calligraphy.
Zhang Chenggang, Chinese consul general in Milan, visited the exhibition and praised ZZU's efforts to revitalize Chinese characters through innovative design. ZZU was also a co-organizer of the 28th Chinese Taiji Festival. The delegation presented selected works at Sempione Park, where calligraphy and character designs complemented Taiji performances.
Zhang Chenggang, Chinese consul general in Milan, visits ZZU's exhibition. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]
During the visit, ZZU held a seminar with scholars from the University of Milan on sports health and cross-cultural communication, laying the groundwork for future collaboration in health sciences.
The exhibition reflects ZZU's commitment to international engagement and the creative transformation of traditional Chinese culture. The university will continue to deepen Sino-Italian educational and cultural exchanges.