Axis Mundi: Art of Partenheimer

Author: Sun Zhouxing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: The Bridge · Art Philosophy Series. I have been engaged in the study and translation of phenomenology for many years, and have not made significant academic progress, but my interests remain broad. In recent years, I have developed some interest in art phenomena and art issues, so after the conference, I had some exchanges with Partchheim. That summer upon returning to China, I corresponded with Partchheim via letters and emails. Later, Partchheim asked if I would be willing to organize the Chinese translation of his book, and I agreed. However, it turned out to be an unpleasant task. The main part of this book includes three of Partchheim's own art essays, a dialogue between him and Professor Zhu Qingsheng (Lao Zhu) in Beijing, and four scholarly commentaries on Partchheim's art. Partchheim's writings are quite challenging to read, with an air of mystery. His works are often referred to as minimalist, but if there is any difference, it might be that they carry a touch more of the mystical. In the appendix of this book, we have arranged the following four sections:
1. Discussion articles by scholars from China and abroad on the "Partchheim Art Exhibition" (including the exhibition held at the National Art Museum of China from January 15 to January 30, 2000, and the exhibition at the Nanjing Museum from February 29 to March 20, 2000). Relevant references are provided in a German-English parallel edition titled CrossMapping (edited by M. Geismayer and D. R?ntgen, Düsseldorf, 2001).
2. The proceedings of the art symposium "Partchheim in China" (March 5–6, 2001, Bonn), recorded on audio tapes (which have also been published separately in German, edited by M. Geismayer and D. R?ntgen, Düsseldorf, 2002).
3. A curriculum vitae of Partchheim.
4. A catalog of Partchheim's solo exhibitions.