Art History, Narratology, and Twentieth-Century Chinese Art

Lian Duan is a senior lecturer in Chinese at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

• Introduction: A Meta-Art History  1. Before 1949: Context and Modern Art  2. Since 1949: Possible Author and Realist Art  3. 1979-1985: Textual Space and Historical Transformation  4. 1985-1989: Unfolding the Events of the Avant-Garde Movement  5. The 1990s: The Postmodern Characterization 6. Towards a Conclusion: Conceptual Art through to the 2020s

"This is a remarkable book about a number of complex topics. Among these are the writing of art history in general, the history of twentieth century Chinese art in particular and the analysis of selected contemporary Chinese artworks. Above all, Duan demonstrates a reflective stance on his vast and fascinating subject, without a trace of ideological dogma." --David Pariser, Concordia University, Montreal"This is an imaginative work deploying an impressive blend of narratives and narratology to illuminate twentieth-century Chinese art – especially the complex period after World War II. It offers a welcome cross-cultural approach to both art practice and its understanding."--Paul Crowther, University of Galway, Ireland"Lian Duan’s remarkable insight that Chinese artists have been deeply influenced by Western thought gives us a valuable and unexpected path for understanding modern Chinese art. Duan elaborates several (Western) cultural perspectives revealing the underlying aesthetics and influences that gradually drew Chinese art and artists away from traditional motives and motifs."--David Burton, Virginia Commonwealth University