Eternal China: the Art and Architecture of China
This course’s intention is to immerse students in living history of China through close contacts with its ancient and contemporary culture. Through their daily exposure to art, architecture and religious artifacts, we hope it will broaden students’ understanding of Chinese culture while enhance their own creative endeavors. The primary focus is to introduce art and architecture, within the context of China’s spirituality and philosophy, which essentially informs their materiality. We will examine the influence of rituals within the arts and crafts— specifically those of woodblock printing, calligraphy, textiles and pottery. During our travels we will visit Buddhist Temples, splendors of Imperial Courts and idiosyncratic gardens of the aristocratic. These sites include The Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, the Tibetan Temple of Yong He Gong and Ming Gardens.Our sojourn through China will find us trekking through numerous places such as Beijing, Shaghai, Suzhou, and other historically and culturally prominent locations. Each of these areas are steeped in history, with their spiritual and artistic lives exemplifys regional and external influences. In addition to those notable places, we will also take excursions off the well-worn track, and immerse ourselves into the uninterrupted living history of village living. Many of these sites date back to the Song Dynasty, and are of great significance to Chinese culture, as they have been sources of inspiration for artists and scholars over the centuries. Beyond enriching student’s cultural experience, this introduction into China’s splendid aristocratic and religious art, artifact, and architecture, will also enhance students’ understanding of this country’s contemporary culture.
Faculty
- Fred Liang
- Fred Liang is Professor of Fine Arts 2D at MassArt. He holds a BFA from the University of Manitoba and an MFA from Yale University. He has traveled extensively in China and has co-led (with Yuan Zuo ) MassArt’s China travel course for the past seven years.
- Yuan Zuo
- Yuan Zuo is an artist who divides his time between Boston and China. He holds a BFA and an MFA from MassArt and studied at the Central Academy o f Fine Arts in Beijing. His work includes mural and installation projects in China including the Dragon and the Phoenix (cast bronze, 1995) and the Rhyme of Han Dynasty (sand blasted glass) both in Beijing. His painting is exhibited locally at the Clark Gallery in Lincoln, Massachusetts.