China: New Nation, New Art, 1911-1932

As the imperial system collapsed in China, the 'New Culture Movement' focused debate on new categories of 'modernity' and 'tradition'. For artists, it posed the questions of what it meant to be both modern and Chinese - challenging them to show how ancient techniques could remain relevant. Artists began to travel abroad (to France, Japan, Germany, Britain and the USA) and become part of an increasingly international 'art world'. The 1920s in China saw both the political chaos of warlordism, but also a flowering of creativity which drew on the keen awareness by many of China's potential as part of a global modernism.

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/china-new-nation-new-art-1911-32

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