Speaker: Mary Ginsberg, Curator of Revolution, Propaganda, Art: Printmaking in Modern China Exhibition.
Arts policy in the new People’s Republic of China (PRC) prescribed colourful prints promoting economic development and social reforms. Many artists, whose black and white woodcuts had scathingly criticised the Republican government, re-invented themselves. Their work followed the propaganda twists and turns of the 1950s and ’60s, as required. After the Cultural Revolution, they changed direction again, toward personal expression.
This illustrated talk highlights the career transformations of some great wartime printmakers, from the late 1930s, into the 1990s. It draws on the respective strengths of London’s two best Chinese print collections: 1940s black-and white woodcuts at the British Museum, and post-‘49 prints at the Muban Educational Trust.
Booking required, Maximum 20 people.
This talk is part of our series of events associated with our exhibition ‘Revolution, Propaganda, Art: Printmaking in Modern China’ in association with the Muban Educational Trust.
Image ©: Late Return in Early Spring, 1988 by Li Qun
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