From Seeing to Discovering

06 Nov 2019

A unique exploration of the interplay between art and mathematics at our Confucius Institute

Our civilization has been developed based on modern knowledge and tradition, or oriental and occidental, but there is an important third source which has been often been largely neglected: interdisciplinary and intercultural inference and exchange.

In this lecture, at our Confucius Institute, Professor Cai Tianxin will focus on the interplay between science and humanity and in particular the similarity among mathematics, art, poetry, and daily life. He will explain why math is everywhere.

Professor Cai believes that there is a process from seeing to discovering in any field of study or career, and he will demonstrate it through classical or modern painting together with some photograph that he took from all around the world.

Professor Cai Tianxin is a mathematician, poet and essayist, photographer and a distinguished professor of Zhejiang University, one of China’s leading academic institutions. He holds a PhD in number theory and has published extensively in this field. His poetry has been translated into more than 20 languages; he has held more than 10 solo photography exhibitions and is a winner of numerous literary and scientific awards. He has also travelled to more than 100 countries – this visit to Manchester is his first!

The lecture will be held on Thursday, 14 November 2019, 4-5pm, at University Place, Room 5.210.

To book

To book a place, visit:

• From Seeing to Discovering