New project on Chinoiserie and contemporary art to launch at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum

CHINESE CONTEMPORARY ART CHINOISERIE CONFERENCE

Originating in the 17th century to describe the Western fascination with Chinese art and design, the phenomenon of Chinoiserie will be the focus of a new three year project SINOPTICON: Contemporary Chinoiserie in Contemporary Art which opens with a symposium at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in early October this year.

 

Karen Tam, 'Genuine American Chop Suey Served With Some Hokey-Pokey!', 2006, paper, 33 x 33 cm. Image courtesy of SINOPTICON.

 

Project founders Eliza Gluckman and Gayle Chong Kwan will chair sessions, including a keynote speech by Beijing-based curator and writer Philip Tinari, alongside sessions featuring Ben Schmidt (University of Washington), Ying Kwok (Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester, UK), Glenn Adamson (V&A), Sarah Teasley (Royal College of Art, London) and artists Wu Chi-Tsung,  Ed Pien and Erika Tan. Each will set out the key themes of the project, identified as: politics and trade, authorship, interpretation and cultural misunderstanding, fantasy, escapism, fiction and design.

In the words of SINOPTICON, the project aims “to use the metaphor of Chinoiserie to expand the discourse of artistic exchange between the two sides of the globe”. As well as the symposium, Philip Tinari will write a series of critical articles for the SINOPTICON website. Major new works are to be commissioned, including a collaborative pavillion featuring Gayle Chong Kwan and Stephanie Douet in late 2010. Art residencies and a touring exhibition can also be expected as the project unfolds.

 

SINOPTICON is part-funded by Arts Council England and supported by the National Trust’s ‘Trust New Art’ programme. Places for the symposium are now fully booked but those interested can still contact Eliza Gluckman via the SINOPTICON website to receive updates on future events.

 

 

Erika Tan, 'Shot Through: Journey of Connections', 2008, DVD still. Image courtesy of SINOPTICON.

 

HG/KN/KCE

Related Topics: Chinese artists, conferences

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Singaporean artist Mona Choo awarded first VandA print-making residency

Mona Choo Made in China

SINGAPORE ARTIST LONDON MUSEUM

Hong Kong-based and Singapore born artist and print maker Mona Choo has been awarded the first printmaking residency at the Victoria and Albert Museum in partnership with The London Print Studio and London Printworks Trust. The six month residency will begin January 2009.

Mona Choo The Last Drop

Selection criteria for the proposal included ideas on how to use the V&A’s collections for inspiration to create new work reports Art Asia News.

Choo’s interest in the metaphysical led to a curiosity about whether ‘old’ objects still hold within them any kind of energy transferred from their creator – the idea that a living person could leave behind an imprint. Choo’s aim is to find a way to record the visual expression of these energies from people and to find another way for people to experience these objects apart from merely seeing these objects as things.

Choo has works in the permanent collection of the Singapore Art Museum, the private collection of United Overseas Bank and has exhibited in New York, the UK, Singapore and Australia.

Asian Art News (print)

 

For more images and bio see artist profile of Mona Choo on Saatchi

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