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The Allure of Matter

Materiality Across Chinese Art
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Allure of Matter explores the pivotal role of materials in Chinese art from ancient to contemporary times. Featuring essays by leading experts, the volume reveals how artists have innovatively used substances like lacquer, crystal, and gunpowder to push artistic boundaries. Originating from the Art and Materiality Symposium, the book highlights materiality as a key force in the evolution of Chinese artistic expression.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$6699
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in Chinese art, material culture, and art history, as well as scholars and curators seeking in-depth analysis of artistic materials and techniques across historical periods.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Since the inventions of porcelain and gunpowder, Chinese artists have experimented with unconventional artistic materials and used conventional materials in unorthodox ways. This groundbreaking volume is the first publication to expound the trans-historical importance of materiality in Chinese art by bringing together essays from leading scholars, curators, and conservators.

Essayists Anne Feng, Yuhang Li, Wei-Cheng Lin, Catherine Stuer, and Yusen Yu examine how materials including lacquer, crystal, paper, and gold stimulated advances in premodern Chinese art. Alex Burchmore, Orianna Cacchione, Nancy P. Lin, Sara Moy, and Rachel Rivenc analyze several instances of material experimentation in contemporary Chinese art in essays that consider materials as varied as gunpowder, plastic, and water.

This book builds upon scholarship originally presented at the Art and Materiality Symposium, held on the occasion of the Smart Museum of Art’s exhibition The Allure of Matter: Material Art from China.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780935573640

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 November 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago,David & Alfred Smart Museum,US

Illustration: 110 color plates

Contributors:

  • Edited by Orianna Cacchione
  • Edited by Wei-Cheng Lin

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 197.0mm

Height: 260.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 328

About the Author

Orianna Cacchione is the curator for global contemporary art at the Smart Museum of Art. With Wu Hung, she curated The Allure of Matter: Material Art from China, which was presented at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Smart Museum. Wei-Cheng Lin is an associate professor of art history and the College at the University of Chicago.

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