AHT2882 · Contemporary Asian art and exhibitions

Overview

This unit introduces you to Asian contemporary art, with a focus on art after 1990. A flourishing art and museum scene in Asia, and heightened international interest, has helped propel Asian art into public visibility. In this context, there has been dramatic growth in Asian contemporary art practice, exhibitions, and museum collections, as well as new Asian art research and archiving initiatives. In this unit, you will explore histories of modern and contemporary art from Asian perspectives. You will become familiar with key contemporary artists and artworks that have come to define different national and regional art histories in Asia, as well as with pivotal writings, exhibitions, curators, and institutions that have helped shape these histories. You will learn to situate critically, modern and contemporary art within Asia’s artistic, cultural and political contexts, and become acquainted with influential scholarship and art writing from the region. Through guided learning projects, you will be encouraged to explore your own interests in Asia and Asian art. You will also be encouraged to think critically about Art History’s geographies, including against international developments of ‘the contemporary’ and ‘global’ art and exhibitions. You will relate Asian-Australian art histories to this, and tap into the wealth of Asian art collections and exhibitions in Australia as resources for learning.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

100% in-semester assessment

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Identify, describe and critically analyse significant artworks, artists, curators, exhibitions and institutions within Asian modern and contemporary art histories;
2. Discuss various artistic, cultural and political contexts from which modern and contemporary Asian art emerges;
3. Critically analyse and evaluate the impact of key art historical scholarship and other art writing that has helped shape Asian modern and contemporary art histories;
4. Apply and communicate critical research, analysis and feedback for interpreting Asian modern and contemporary art and its histories;
5. Understand and be able to apply a range of theory for critically interpreting Asian modern and contemporary art, including Asia-based theoretical perspectives.

Workload

12 hours per week including 3 contact hours plus 9 hours of independent study, or equivalent.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.