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opal360's review
4.0
This lavish hardback gives a fascinating account of Shanghai’s visual culture in the 20th century, starting with the China Trade paintings of the 1850s (topographical works that showed the premises of important companies) and finishing with video material from the early 2000s. Published to accompany the 2010 exhibition “Shanghai” at the Asian Art Museum, it still works very well as a stand-alone guide.
The book presents material from every decade and in a variety of media: traditional ink painting, Western-inspired painting by artists such as Lin Fengmian (1900-1991) and Xu Beihong (1895-1953), propaganda posters, woodcuts and more.
I especially enjoyed the selections from the 1930s, including photographs of 1930s buildings, Shanghai Deco furniture, wool rugs, magazine covers and posters of 1930s beauties. I was also curious to read up on contemporary artists such as Zhou Tiehai (b. 1966) and Liu Dahong (b. 1962).
I felt that the essays varied somewhat in quality, and that there was repetition of the historical material - perhaps unavoidable with art that is politically charged. But this volume is bursting with pictures and definitely recommended.
Longer version of this review at http://asianartbrief.com/2015/03/26/book-review-shanghai-art-of-the-city/
The book presents material from every decade and in a variety of media: traditional ink painting, Western-inspired painting by artists such as Lin Fengmian (1900-1991) and Xu Beihong (1895-1953), propaganda posters, woodcuts and more.
I especially enjoyed the selections from the 1930s, including photographs of 1930s buildings, Shanghai Deco furniture, wool rugs, magazine covers and posters of 1930s beauties. I was also curious to read up on contemporary artists such as Zhou Tiehai (b. 1966) and Liu Dahong (b. 1962).
I felt that the essays varied somewhat in quality, and that there was repetition of the historical material - perhaps unavoidable with art that is politically charged. But this volume is bursting with pictures and definitely recommended.
Longer version of this review at http://asianartbrief.com/2015/03/26/book-review-shanghai-art-of-the-city/
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