Why This Research Matters
Art isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about power, history, and who gets to decide what counts as “valuable.” Chinoiserie, a European fantasy of Chinese art, has long been dismissed as mere decoration rather than intellectual or high art.
But why?
By tracing Chinoiserie’s evolution—from a product of colonial trade to a contested art form—I uncover the hidden forces that shape how we value art. This project explores how race, gender, and market forces have influenced Chinoiserie’s reception over centuries and how contemporary artists are reclaiming and reinterpreting it today.
Through historical research, market analysis, and creative engagement, this project asks: What do we consider “real” art, and why? The answer isn’t just about Chinoiserie—it’s about the larger biases that continue to shape art history, museums, and the global art market today.
But why?
By tracing Chinoiserie’s evolution—from a product of colonial trade to a contested art form—I uncover the hidden forces that shape how we value art. This project explores how race, gender, and market forces have influenced Chinoiserie’s reception over centuries and how contemporary artists are reclaiming and reinterpreting it today.
Through historical research, market analysis, and creative engagement, this project asks: What do we consider “real” art, and why? The answer isn’t just about Chinoiserie—it’s about the larger biases that continue to shape art history, museums, and the global art market today.