Nottingham Lakeside Arts will host Jixiang (Propitious), a world premiere of a specially-commissioned digital projection in a series of free outdoor shows, transforming The University of Nottingham’s iconic Trent Building into a huge digital canvas over the Chinese New Year weekend on 28 and 29 January.

Digital artist Barret Hodgson has collaborated with Chinese artists; Ningbo brush painter Jiang Hongsheng, winner of the ‘National Golden Prize for Chinese Painting’, and virtuoso erhu player Ling Peng, to inspire his 15-minute ‘Jixiang’ projection which will be set to music, celebrating contemporary and traditional Chinese culture.

Director at Nottingham Lakeside Arts, Shona Powell OBE, says: “Barret and I have long shared an ambition to use the Trent Building as a canvas for a digital art commission. This year we’re realising that aspiration and marking the fact that we’ve come a full zodiac cycle since first celebrating Chinese New Year. This is a great occasion for families and friends, and we wanted to create a visually stunning free event which people of all ages can enjoy, and which we hope may also become one of many highlights in our Vice-Chancellor’s final year in post.”

Hodgson’s company Vent Media creates and stages visual media for international live performance events including theatre, music, art and dance. Barret has been a national VJ for many years, collaborating with DJ Yoda, Fat Boy Slim, Ghostface Killah and Roni Size. His recent work in theatre has taken him to Shanghai touring with choreographer Tom Dale’s Digitopia dance theatre performance, created and presented in partnership with MOKO in association with Warwick Arts Centre but also premiered at Nottingham Lakeside Arts.

The Chinese New Year celebrations continue to fortify Nottingham’s strong cultural links with China. In 2003 The University of Nottingham was invited to become the first foreign university to establish an independent campus, under new legislation passed in China. University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) is located in Ningbo, a historic city on China’s eastern coast close to Shanghai.

Find out more about the Chinese New Year celebrations.