Join us for a multi-sensory experience where traditional Chinese tea rituals meet contemporary design and live music. This intimate session invites you to slow down, reconnect, and savor a unique moment of peace and inspiration.
Co-presented by Teasthetic and ALT Alliance, this event is part of the 2025 NYCxDESIGN Festival Spotlight.
What You Will Experience
Awareness in a Cup
Join a serene Chinese tea ceremony, where guests gather around a thoughtfully designed tea stage and embark on a delicate sensory journey—listening to bubbling spring water, watching graceful movements, and savoring each refined sip. The tea’s subtle aroma and flavor draw the mind into the present moment, offering a quiet return to inner stillness and a heightened awareness of sensation and emotion.
Soundscapes of Emotion
Let the soulful notes of a live Erhu performance carry you into deeper reflection. Often called the “Chinese violin,” this expressive two-stringed instrument has been used for centuries to tell stories of emotion, harmony, and stillness.
Connections Through Culture
Discover the rich heritage of Chinese tea and music, and how they invite deeper connection—with yourself, with others, and with the world around you. This shared experience brings together diverse creative minds to exchange stories, traditions, and inspiration.
Agenda
Session 1
11:00 AM-11:10 AM Opening Erhu Performance
11:10 AM-11:40 AM Chinese Tea Ceremony: Pre-Qingming West Lake Longjing (Green Tea)
11:40 AM-11:50 AM Handmade Tea dessert
11:50 AM-12:20 PM Chinese Tea Ceremony: Fenghuang Dancong—Wudong Songzhong (Oolong Tea)
12:20 PM-12:30 PM Closing Erhu Performance
Session 2
2:00 PM-2:10 PM Opening Erhu Performance
2:10 PM-2:40 PM Chinese Tea Ceremony: Pre-Qingming West Lake Longjing (Green Tea)
2:40 PM-2:50 PM Handmade Tea dessert
2:50 PM-3:20 PM Chinese Tea Ceremony: Fenghuang Dancong—Wudong Songzhong (Oolong Tea)
3:20 PM-3:30 PM Closing Erhu Performance
Meet the Artists
Gong Mengyan
Mengyan is a tea artist who pursued in-depth studies of Chinese tea culture after earning her Ph.D. from Tsinghua University in 2015, apprenticing under the highly innovative tea master Li Shuyun. Mengyan has collaborated with institutions such as Penn State University and Tea Arts & Culture, as well as art and cultural venues like Fou Gallery, hosting numerous tea gatherings and educational events. In 2023, she founded Teasthetic Studio, with a mission to spread the tradition of Chinese tea art and culture in a modern and innovative manner by drawing inspiration from contemporary life and art.
Zhang Jingwen
Jingwen is an erhu musician, multi-instrumentalist, and music therapist. A graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music, she began studying piano at five and erhu at eight, later training under master Guo Junming at the Affiliated Performing Arts School of Shenyang Conservatory of Music. Jingwen has performed at prestigious venues such as Town Hall, Kaufman Music Center, and the NBA’s China Night. She holds a Ph.D. in music therapy and is a faculty member at SUNY New Paltz. She also presents and teaches internationally. She integrates the therapeutic power of erhu music into her clinical music therapy practice and private sessions with clients.
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The Chinese tea ceremony is a ritualized way to savor tea. The contemporary practice draws its influence from the Ming Dynasty scholars and the Gongfu Tea Ceremony in the Chaoshan. Engaging in a tea ceremony is an exercise in mindfulness that deepens your appreciation of the tea.
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Absolutely! We’ll guide you through each step, making it intuitive and easy to enjoy.
Registration is required, with an admission fee of $80. Limited to only 8 spots in each session, ensuring an immersive and intimate experience for each attendee.
Join us to savor a unique moment of peace and inspiration!