From Paris to Chengdu: War and the Transformation of Pang Xunqin’s Painting

From Paris to Chengdu: War and the Transformation of Pang Xunqin’s Painting

Date: 24 April 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 5:00pm
Venue: Room 2.38, Main Building, HKU

Pang Xunqin (龐薰琹, 1906-1985), who was one of the founders of the Central Institute of Arts and Crafts, is well known for his achievements as a researcher and educator in the field of arts and crafts. However, his other role in 20th century Chinese art history, which may be of equal or greater importance and has, until now, been somewhat neglected, is that of a modern painter. This seminar examines the “sinicization” elements in Pang’s wartime paintings (1937-1945). By analyzing the subject matter and formal quality of his wartime works, comparing them with works of the prewar period, and viewing them in the context of war, my research explores his attempts to imbue the works with Chinese associations.

Speaker: Yang Qingkang (MPhil Candidate, Department of Fine Arts, HKU)