Everything: Modularization and Mass Production in Chinese Art

Author: Red
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: Red is a professor at the Department of East Asian Art History, Heidelberg University, and one of the most influential sinologists in Western sinology who studies Chinese art. Upon its publication, the book attracted widespread attention from Western sinology and academia, and its viewpoints were widely cited. The author delves into the layers of Chinese culture and aesthetic concepts from multiple perspectives, following both the historical thread and the process of technological development, as well as by artistic categories and the distinctions in materials and craftsmanship. He analyzes Chinese art and craftsmanship, revealing the most unique and profound aspects of Chinese art history. The author explains that Chinese artists, unlike their Western counterparts, do not seek to faithfully reproduce natural objects but instead explore alternative ways to create countless, even infinitely, original artworks. He also points out to readers how the concept of modularity permeates Chinese bureaucratic culture, religion, and ideas about individual freedom. This book takes readers on a profound journey through Chinese art and culture, revealing how Chinese artists produced a vast array of artworks within a complex system. This system is deeply rooted in Chinese philosophical concepts—the universe is composed of all things.