China, Art, History: New Orientations

With China’s recent growing presence on the world stage, the last three decades or so have marked a new chapter in the study of Chinese art history. There were more studies than ever that took advantage of new excavated materials and newly accessible archives and sites of research, as well as China’s new-found position in the global world. The scholarship also grew out of deeper engagements between China and the broader field of art history, while exploring its interdisciplinary potential by implementing approaches derived from literary theories and visual and material cultures. This crucial moment coincided with the careers of several prominent scholars, whose research provided the foundation of teaching and research that in turn have nurtured generations of scholars, together reshaping the field of Chinese art history as it is today.

 

China, Art, History: New Orientations was conceived in response to this development in Chinese art history. But more than being a retrospective reflection on the field, it is also intended to provide a venue for discussing new directions in relation to past and current trends. The threeday conference will be hosted by the Department of Art History at the University of Chicago in honor of Professor Wu Hung. It will bring together scholars and graduate students at different stages in their careers from both the University of Chicago and other institutions worldwide, facilitating exchange of ideas and approaches across different generations. A complete program will be available in mid-September. For more information, please contact Wei-Cheng Lin at wlin@uchicago.edu