Weight and Whimsy: Chinese Language in Contemporary Art

The most distinctive feature of Chinese visual culture is the written language. Chinese people gave up robes for Western suits, Mao jackets, and jeans. Hutong houses are being replaced with steel and glass towers. But the written language is impervious to Westernization. Dr. Alfreda Murck will discuss four contemporary artists — Wang Fangyu, Qiu Zhijie, Zhang Huan, and Xu Bing — who feature Chinese characters in their art. Their works are not calligraphy per se, but are rather critical and witty commentaries on politics, culture, China’s long history, and on the language itself.

Dr. Murck holds a Ph.D. in Art History from Princeton University. Her research centers on classical Chinese painting. An internationally recognized curator, educator, and scholar, she has served in key positions in both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Palace Museum in Beijing, and she has also taught Chinese art history at Columbia University.