Transcendent in Action: The CoverBooks as Interlinear Commentary

Autor: Peterson, Nathan James
Zdroj: International Communication of Chinese Culture; June 2021, Vol. 8 Issue: 2 p317-337, 21p
Abstrakt: Chinese artists like Ai Weiwei and his peers broadened interaction between China and the West by publishing a series known as the Coverbooks during the 1990s. While Ai is known internationally for his views, little attention is paid to literary efforts he undertook when returning to Beijing after spending time in the United States. Contributions by him and peers Xu Bing and Zeng Xiaojun translating important texts from Modern and contemporary art into Chinese necessitated a writing style akin to the works of Chinese philosophers like Zhu Xi. By paralleling the discourse of Chinese classics, Ai and his peers have broadened discussions in China beyond the realms of politics and economics. Their commentary in the Coverbooks contextualizes the work of important artists from the West as well as the concepts guiding their art. The books are consequential to artistic practice in China and encourage greater engagement by Chinese amid a heterodox world. They should be regarded as works of literature discussing art as well as the notion of transcendence—one achieved by aligning thought with action.
Databáze: Supplemental Index
Externí odkaz: