Contemporary Taiwanese Art in the Era of Contention

This Book is in Good Condition. The Softcovers have Light Rubbing to the Surface and Light Edgewear, including a Couple of Very Small Creases to the Fore Edge Corners but No Tears, Stains, or Other Major Damage. The Spine is Not Creased; the Binding is Strong, Intact, and Undamaged. The Interior is Clean and Unmarked with No Writing, Highlighting, or Underlining and has No Tears, Creases, Stains, Mold, or Any Major Damage. The Page Edges have No Remainder Mark, Foxing, Stains, or Any Major Damage.

Book Description:

Contemporary Taiwanese Art in the Era of Contention has essays by Yen Chuan-ying, Hsiao Chong-ray, and An-yi Pan, and was published by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in 2004 to accompany an exhibition jointly organized with the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University and exhibited there from April 3 to August 15, 2004. This Book is a Softcover measuring 9.125" x 11.875" with 256 pages. Contemporary Taiwanese Art in the Era of Contention focuses on the period since 1987, when the late president of Taiwan, Chiang Ching-kuo, lifted nearly half a century of martial law. The period since this historic change witnessed the most radical and contentious social and political transformations in the island's history, and inspired a younger generation of artists, fascinated by global artistic trends, to employ new means and forms to define "their" era. Liberation of thought during this unprecedented period of openness provided a critical breakthrough and opportunities to overcome the limitations to artistic expression that characterized the martial law era. The redefinition and redistribution of Taiwan's political and ideological map engendered interests in new subjects in Taiwanese visual culture. Many taboo topics of the past, such as ethnicity, sexuality, homosexuality, feminism, postindustrial culture, and cross-strait relations, became the foci of intense scrutiny and lively discussions among artists and the broader public. In addition, fascination with and concerns about the possibilities and limitations of technology, including the Internet, propelled a new generation of Taiwanese artists to fully participate in the larger social, cultural, and political debates. The exhibition, curated by An-yi Pan, Cornell assistant professor of history of art, examines contemporary Taiwanese visual culture through the lenses of cultural identity and historical memory. Several factors contribute to complex issues of Taiwanese identity: the island's status as an independent political entity, but with a profound, yet ambiguous relationship with mainland China, both historically and currently; its non-nation status in the international political arena; centuries of colonial dominance of the island, followed by nearly half a century of authoritarian rule. At present, artistic creation in Taiwan draws upon this rich reservoir of experience to deal in compelling ways with Taiwan's distinctive cultural characteristics and history. The catalogue includes the work of new media artists such as Wu Mali, Liu Shih-fen, Chen Yung-hsien, Hung Tung-lu, Eva Hsin-i Lin, Lin Shu-min, Diing-wuu Wu Walis, and C. J. Yeh. The exhibition is jointly organized by the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Major support for the exhibition and catalogue was provided by the Council for Cultural Affairs, Executive Yuan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, R.O.C.; the Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation; and The Blakemore Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Taipei Cultural Center, Cornell Council for the Arts, Cornell East Asia Program, Cornell Cinema, and Department of the History of Art.