Contemporary Art and Ecological Transformation in East and Southeast Asia - (Rethinking Art's Histories) by Meiqin Wang (Hardcover)

About the Book

This volume explores how contemporary art in East and Southeast Asia addresses ecological crises, through artistic interventions that inspire environmental consciousness, social justice, and sustainable futures.

Book Synopsis

This anthology, presenting new research from fourteen scholars, delves into the interplay between contemporary art and ecological concerns in East and Southeast Asia. Focused on the concept of artistic remediation, the book unravels the diverse capacities of art to combat systemic anthropogenic destruction to the environment and ecology. At its core, the book articulates the ongoing ecological transformation in art and art history that embraces a paradigm shift in human-nature relationships, emphasizing interconnectedness of all life forms of the Earth. Bridging art studies, activism, and environmental studies, the book examines how artistic practices in the region have engaged with ecocritical reflection, biodiversity advocacy, sustainable practices, and environmental justice, among others. Providing a platform for critical and timely analysis of artistic interventions in the face of existential crises, the book acknowledges diverse voices of scholars who have situated their scholarship in the cultural and artistic specificities of various societies, locales, and communities in the region.

From the Back Cover

In the face of global ecological crises, this edited volume examines how contemporary art in East and Southeast Asia confronts environmental destruction, ecological degradation, and social injustice. The book explores the concept of artistic remediation - art's capacity to intervene in and respond to ecological challenges - across a wide range of creative practices. These include producing thought-provoking artworks, fostering non-human agency, reclaiming materials, advocating for biodiversity, promoting eco-education, protesting against capitalist extractivism, and envisioning sustainable futures, among other approaches.

Through eleven chapters, twelve contributors delve into artistic interventions that reflect, inspire action, and catalyse ecological transformation. Grounded in the environmental, cultural, and artistic contexts of the region, the authors analyse how individual artists, collectives, and organisations - whether working independently or in collaboration with activists and local communities - confront ecological injustices and foster broader ecological consciousness. Their research uncovers the rich local histories, political ecologies, and creative strategies driving the dynamic and evolving intersection between art and ecology today.

By documenting and theorising these diverse forms of remediation, this book not only advances an ecologically conscious and socially engaged art history but also presents a compelling vision for the future. It offers a call to action, emphasising the power of art to inspire a more just and sustainable planet for all life forms.

About the Author

Meiqin Wang specialises in modern and contemporary Chinese art and teaches Asian art history courses in the Art Department at California State University, Northridge