On October 24, 2026, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China and the AmCham China Southwest Chapter jointly hosted a brunch sharing event titled “Art Empowering Chengdu — How Business and Design Nourish Urban Culture” at the Tonino Lamborghini Hotel Chengdu. The event brought together two speakers from the art and interior design industries to explore the connections between art, design, and business, and how these fields contribute to Chengdu’s urban culture and everyday life.
Following the welcome remarks, Dr. Sophia Grace Kidd, Founder and CEO of Yan Er Lu Arts International, invited participants to look “beyond the guidebook” and discover Chengdu’s interconnected cultural ecosystem of artists, writers, museums, galleries, independent bookstores, designers and creative enterprises. Through five pathways—public museums, private art institutions, artist studios and galleries, creative industries and literary Chengdu—she illustrated how curated cultural experiences can deepen understanding of the city, foster cross-sector connections and create new opportunities for cooperation. She emphasized that culture is not an ornament added after economic development, but a force through which a city imagines and builds its future.
In the second keynote, Ms. Lingna Liu explored how Italian design and aesthetics can be integrated into everyday life in Chengdu. Starting from the home, she highlighted the value of materials, craftsmanship, proportion and durability, as well as the role of dining and kitchen spaces in nurturing relationships. Examples such as using a solid-wood dining table for tea or pairing an Italian round table with a lazy Susan showed how Italian design can find new meaning in local lifestyles. She then connected private living spaces with broader urban aesthetics, citing Milan’s Bosco Verticale and the Liuzhou Forest City concept to illustrate how design can bring together nature, daily life and the city.
The keynote presentations were followed by an open discussion, brunch service and networking. Participants continued exchanging views on artistic engagement, design, commercial practice and urban culture, while exploring potential connections among their professional and cultural interests.
CCIC extends its sincere thanks to Dr. Sophia Grace Kidd and Ms. Lingna Liu for their insightful contributions, to AmCham China Southwest Chapter for the collaboration, and to all participants for joining the discussion. The Chamber will continue to provide a platform for cultural and business exchange, fostering dialogue and new connections between the Italian and Chinese communities in Chengdu.
