Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2015 - Humanities — Art & Architecture — Asian and Asian American Studies

Leading scholar and curator Wu Hung (Univ. of Chicago) here compresses his wide-ranging writings and exhibition work into a single, hefty volume.  Precisely what constitutes "contemporary Chinese art" remains debatable, and recognizing a plurality of local conditions, the author defines his geographical, chronological, and categorical parameters at the outset.  He narrates the history of art by mainland Chinese artists (Taiwan and Hong Kong are excluded) from the 1970s to the aughts, and focuses on the avant-garde, or art that is somehow "new."  Still, he recognizes the permeability of "spheres" of activity, as when Chinese artists participate in the international system of art markets and exhibitions or when they operate in domestic systems of commercial art, political propaganda, and private exchange.  Proceeding chronologically, this volume alternates between a macroscopic view of sociopolitical conditions of art-making and finely grained descriptions of key groups and individual artists.  The shifting perspectives nevertheless lead to a common, triumphant narrative of underground art succeeding on the international stage.  Profusely illustrated, this book shapes a canon of contemporary Chinese art and accompanying set of discursive concepts that will resonate for years to come.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.

In this skillfully organized and brilliantly illustrated text, Graham (independent appraiser, scholar, and lecturer) explains Japanese design to Western readers.  She identifies the essential elements of Japanese design, sometimes through ineffable Japanese terms.  These elements, which came into use historically, continue to be present in contemporary art, architecture, decorative art, commercial design, and indeed much of the Japanese visual experience.  The author considers cultural contributions to these pervasive design aesthetics, notably those of Shinto (Japans indigenous religion) and Buddhism (introduced from Korea in the sixth century CE), still practiced in tandem today.  She also looks at the contributions of secular culture, including the commercial "floating world" of Edo period Japan (16031868) before the US forced Japan to open up to the West and the postWW II reconstruction period.  Graham also addresses how, beginning in the mid-19th century, Japanese art and design were introduced to the West.  She provides biographical summaries of European, American, and Japanese collectors, museum professionals, journalists, scholars, writers, architects, artists, and interior designers who were the leading lights.  This book is a crucial guide for art and design students and very worthwhile for anyone with an interest in Japanese art.Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers.