Teaching contemporary art history in China

In 2009, the author spent a semester teaching western art history to Chinese students in Beijing. And he was also able to review contemporary art exhibitions in that city. He has published books on the methodologies of art history, on the art museum and on a world art history. Therefore, this article draws some lessons from that experience, in light of these publications. To what extent can histories of art in China be modelled on narratives about western art? And, in what ways, does the art historian need to consider the distinctive features of Chinese culture? When the possibilities for misunderstanding by a foreigner are so obvious, how is it possible to develop plausible interpretations of contemporary art? A great deal of recent English-language art writing is being translated into Chinese. And yet, the availability of such cultural exchanges does not necessarily answer these questions. But here it is necessary to consider political issues, which are not easy to resolve.