Made in China: Looking at art, grasping art history - five online talks by Professor Oliver Moore

Drawing directly on visits to China, this ground-breaking series explores historical and contemporary ways of looking at art and art history in China. It discusses how Chinese and western viewpoints have validated each concept differently. Following the global encounters of the 19th and 20th centuries, how did Chinese artists respond to western art practices (e.g. oil painting) – what did they adopt or reject? On what terms and to what extent did scholars and critics adapt the familiar ideas of Chinese art history to align it with the European discipline, itself quite a new phenomenon?

Beyond borders, China has long presented a striking paradox: for centuries, imagined notions of Chinese civilisation were a measure of the highest form of exotic allure. Numerous world languages described anything strange and remotely captivating via metaphorical references to China. Yet practical western knowledge dates only to the late 18th century after Sir George Macartney led his highly publicised embassy to the Qing court. The novelty of this visit instilled the confidence of later generations to reconnoitre both east- and westwards, giving rise to such fashions as European chinoiserie. This series, illustrated with calligraphy, gardens, imprints, painting, photography and porcelain, etc., seeks to explore these contradictions, demystifying China as ‘another world’ and instead interpreting Chinese civilisation as a different set of orders, priorities and relationships.

The talks take place every Thursday from 9th January–6th February at 4.30pm (London) and, including Q&A, will last just under an hour. They are available for viewing for eight weeks after the last episode is streamed (3rd April 2025).