This talk will focus on Chinoiserie – the distinctive 17th- to 18th-century European aesthetic inspired by Chinese culture – and Chinese export watercolours from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Examining works of art from two renowned European collections, museum curators will explore the layers of meaning surrounding the early reception, reimagining, and interpretation of Chinese art in Europe.

Whether conceptualising China as a place of exoticism and otherness or attempting to make sense of China's cultural differences for Western audiences, these featured artworks reveal various perspectives that tell us as much about the West's self-perception as they do about China. Join us on a journey through the institutional history of art acquisition, where we will address critical issues such as collecting policy, cultural authenticity, knowledge representation, and decolonisation.

The conversation will be conducted in English with English-Cantonese simultaneous interpretation.

Speakers:

Dr. Birgitta Augustin | Curator of Chinese Art, Museum für Asiatische Kunst (Asian Art Museum) in Berlin

Dr. Hongxing Zhang | Senior Curator, Asia Department, V&A Museum