If you have visited the 2nd floor of XMUM Library for the past few days, you may have noticed that a “tree” is growing on the wall.
On 6 October 2023, a sharing session for the “Knowledge Tree” project, the first-ever Artist-in-Residence project at Xiamen University Malaysia, was held at A3 Library.

Sponsored by the “Lighthouse Library” Project by the Malaysian Social Entrepreneurship Foundation (MSEF), "Knowledge Tree" is a wall painting project organized by XMUM School of Communications and renowned Malaysian artist Shia Yih Yiing.

During the 10-day project, students were able to work with the artist to complete the wall painting in the library, depicting their life experiences with a paintbrush.

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During the sharing session, Dr. Aki Chong Li Chin, MSEF’s director, explained to the students the origin of the Lighthouse Library Project. She said that the era of donating books for charity is over, and having books that no one can read is a problem in today's society. Thus, MSEF hopes to work with like-minded people to promote reading in various ways, making reading the brightest light in the education system by building a good interactive reading environment and cultivating reading habits. 

"Starting from planting a tree" is the first step determined by the three parties, which is also where the idea of Knowledge Tree came from.

Speaking of the process of creating "Knowledge Tree", artist Shia Yih Yiing showed the students the images and materials she had researched: from the Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, to the huge branches of natural sciences and humanities, she wanted to make the tree visually beautiful and meanwhile, rich in textual information.

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After two months of experimenting, she finished designing the tree with lush branches and fruits made up of words from one discipline and knowledge to another. Finally, she gave the tree the blue colour belonging to the emblem of Xiamen University Malaysia.

"I want everyone to come together and dream." On both sides of the "Knowledge Tree", Shia Yih Yiing designed a free drawing space for the students. She hoped that what grew there was the "Trees of Life" drawn by the students themselves.

"A dream you dream is a dream. A dream you dream together is a reality." At the end of the sharing, Shia Yih Yiing shared her favourite quote with the students.

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In the second half of the sharing session, students used drawings and texts to “plant” their own tree on a blank piece of paper, and through those trees, which have both fruits and pests, they were able to explore and learn how life blossoms and changes.

The "Knowledge Tree" project will run till 14 October. During this period, every Tuesday to Saturday, students are welcome to visit the 2nd floor of the A3 Library and create their own Leaves of Life for the “Knowledge Tree”. Join us and have your own life grow together with the books.

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Leaves of Life drawn by students

(Contributed by Zhou Chenyan, photo by Huang Yiyang & Library)