Who Defines Chinese Art?

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An interesting art review by Benjamin Genocchio in the New York Times caught my attention this weekend. In his review of a Princeton University Art Museum exhibit on contemporary Chinese art, he raised the question of whether or not artists who live outside of China or are not even Chinese can be said to represent "Chinese Art."

The exhibit in question is titled "Outside In: Chinese x American x Contemporary Art" and runs until June 7, 2009.

The museum describes the exhibit thusly:

"Contemporary "Chinese" art has become the darling of international art exhibitors and collectors, but much of it looks alike to the audience and much of it is made in America. Looking at what is Chinese, contemporary, and American, Outside In: Chinese x American x Contemporary Art and its accompanying publication focus on the diversity of Chinese artistic styles today through an examination of the work and lives of six contemporary artists, often told in their own voices, all of whom are United States citizens and "American" artists deeply engaged in Chinese artistic traditions, style, subject matter, and philosophical outlook."

The artists include four ethnically Chinese artists who currently live or have lived in the United States, a white American who lives in China, and an American-born Vietnamese artist who lives in Washington State.

Genocchio writes: "I am all for shaking up the categories of national identity and cultural affiliation, but I wonder how this group can realistically be said to exemplify contemporary Chinese art or, as the catalog puts it, 'Chinese-ness'."