Engaging with the World: Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art Since the Dawn of the 20th Century
- EditorTaikang Art Museum
- PublisherShanghai Fine Arts Publishing House
- ISBN9787547931837
Located in Beijing’s CBD, the Taikang Art Museum (TAM) officially opened to the public on August 22, 2023, with its inaugural exhibition Engaging with the World: Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art Since the Dawn of the 20th Century. The bilingual (Chinese-English) publication of the same title, compiled by the Taikang Art Museum and published by Shanghai Fine Arts Publishing House, is now available.
This publication systematically reviews the development of Chinese art since the 20th century, examining how art has responded to social realities and the spirit of the times. It presents the diverse creative styles and mediums that emerged as Chinese modern and contemporary art evolved under the dual influences of tradition and various international movements.
The book is available for purchase through the official channels of Shanghai Fine Arts Publishing House.
About the Book
This volume accompanies Taikang Art Museum’s inaugural exhibition of the same title. This volume serves as the catalogue for the Taikang Art Museum’s inaugural exhibition. Organized around key themes in the development of twentieth-century Chinese art, it embodies the museum’s systematic and historically grounded approach to academic research. Spanning a century of artistic practice, the book presents the pluralistic styles and media that have emerged in modern and contemporary Chinese art under the combined influences of tradition and international movements. Featuring works ranging from traditional Chinese painting, oil painting, video and installation, it highlights artists’ creative explorations and innovations in expressing personal and social concerns. Each chapter offers detailed images, texts, and scholarly interpretations that not only showcase the aesthetic qualities of the works but also reveal their deeper cultural and social meanings.
About the Author
The Taikang Art Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to the research and collection of Chinese contemporary art. Initiated and founded by Taikang Insurance Group, the museum focuses on modern and contemporary Chinese art from the twentieth century to the present, as well as new art oriented toward the future. Through art, it seeks to trace and present the evolving relationship between Chinese artistic practice and the broader historical trajectory of modern China.
From Editor
The curator invites readers to “engage with the world,” offering in-depth insights into the exhibition’s core themes and curatorial approach—reflecting the artistic vision of a non-profit institution.
From Humans Writ Large to Art and Society, ten thematic sections trace a century of artistic evolution.
TAM’s research team reveals the stories behind the artworks through accessible yet professional analysis.
Over one hundred iconic works are included, each accompanied by detailed commentaries.
Bilingual in Chinese and English, telling China’s stories through art to the world.
Elegantly designed in large-format hardcover with premium Munken paper and spot-color printing, it restores the pleasure of reading through refined craftsmanship.
Contents
Preface: Rooted in the Era’s Fertile Soil, Supporting Contemporary Art
From the Curator: Engaging with the World
I. Humans Writ Large
Revolutionary Ideals are Loftier than Heaven
Artists
Portraits: Life Drawing and Realism
Body and Identity: Subject or Medium
Life: Passion and Turbulence
II. Art and Society
Reality: Confrontation and Response
Condensing Emotion into Image: Lyricism and Romanticism
At the Vanguard: Standards and Viewpoints
Brush Marks: Representation and Non-Representation
The 21st Century: Destruction and Creation
III. About Taikang
About Taikang Insurance Group
About Taikang Art Museum
Appendix
photos
