Asian Art Now

by Melissa Chiu, Benjamin Genocchio

The remarkable phenomenon of the twenty-first-century art world is contemporary Asian art. Fueled by a newfound openness in the East, and by an economic boom that has promoted a vibrant cultural confidence, art made in Asia or by Asian artists since the 1990s has become dynamic and exciting, acknowledged and appreciated by collectors, critics, and curators. This authoritative, wide-ranging volume surveys the contemporary art of Asia, examining key issues and art’s relationship to history and tradition, its engagement with politics, society, and the state, its exploration of consumerism and popular culture, and its interplay with the urban environment. Artists range from the established―Nam June Paik, On Kawara, Yoko Ono, Cai Guo-Qiang, Takashi Murakami―to the emerging―Indonesian cartoon artist Wedhar Riyadi, Mongolian site-specific artist Chaolun Baatar, Pakistani graffiti artist Naiza Khan, Vietnamese-American photo artist Dinh Q. Le, and many more. Together, these artists represent the range of Asian countries, from Indonesia to Japan, Uzbekistan to South Korea, Iran to China. More than 230 sumptuous illustrations capture the full scope of the artists’ practice, from calligraphy, painting, sculpture, and photography to performance, installation, video, and Internet art. Complete with comprehensive biographies, Asian Art Now is both a superb critical overview and the consummate visual reference.

Genres: Art

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2010

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating review of work which you may have seen in US galleries and museums. Much of it is a bit more political than artistic. Or is that always the case? Art which aspires to be global but remains visibly Asian.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers more than just China, Korea and Japan. A lot of artists, a lot of images, but lacks depth. A lot of observations and facts but not explanations and theory.

[E Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of art and artists in the part of the world that's probably producing the most relevant, if not best art of our time.

[Mills College Library]

709.50904 C5436 2010