Visual Representations of the Cold War and Postcolonial Struggles: Art in East and Southeast Asia

This volume explores the visual manifestations of postcolonial struggles in art in East and Southeast Asia during the transition from the communist/capitalist ideological divide to the neoliberal global power structure. Contributors investigate visual art from Australia, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Okinawa, and the Philippines, examining how it deviated from the communist/capitalist dichotomy to explore issues of identity, environment, rapid commercialization of art, and independence. The study offers insights into lesser-known aspects of the Cold War, including humanistic responses to neo-imperial exploitations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 25 June 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The essays and artworks compiled in this volume delve into the captivating realm of visual representations of postcolonial struggles in art across East and Southeast Asia, as the world embarked on a transformative journey from the ideological divide of communism and capitalism to the emerging global power structure under neoliberalism, which began to take shape during the Cold War. The contributors to this insightful collection explore the rich tapestry of visual art that emerged in Australia, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Korea, Okinawa, and the Philippines. Through their critical lenses and innovative approaches, the scholars and curators examine how visual art from postcolonial countries departed from the binary of communism and capitalism to explore profound themes of identity, environment, the rapid commercialization of art, and the pursuit of independence. These focal points provide invaluable insights into lesser-known aspects of the Cold War, encompassing humanistic responses to the neo-imperial exploitations of people and resources as capitalism reached its most aggressive manifestation.

Given its groundbreaking approach, this seminal study holds immense value for scholars engaged in the study of 20th-century East Asian and Southeast Asian art history and visual and cultural studies. It offers a profound exploration of the artistic expressions that emerged during a period of immense political and social upheaval, shedding light on the complex interplay between culture, power, and identity in this region.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 158 x 242 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367615291