British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Shitao and the Traditional Chinese Conception of Ruins

In this lecture Professor Hung Wu (Harrie A. Vanderstappen Distinguished Service Professor in Chinese Art History and Director of the Center for the Art of East Asia at the University of Chicago) reflects on traditional Chinese representations of ruins and the way the ancient Chinese conveyed the sentiment of huaigu – 'lamenting the past' or 'meditating on the past' in non-representational fashions. This lecture explores indigenous conception of ruins in Chinese culture through analysing some remarkable paintings by Shitao (1642–1707), arguably one the last great masters of traditional Chinese painting.

 
The 2009 Aspects of Art Lecture was delivered at the British Academy on 10 November 2009