A journey through Asian art
- The victors select the imagery by which we know history and judge their actions. The image becomes a visual justification of their power. Discuss.
- Look at events over the past year that might be the subject of a history painting? Make a rough sketch and discuss with others what you have done to make it a history painting rather than a document. How does it re-inforce the power of the key character and their ideology?
- In the digital age we can use programs such as Photoshop to add or subtract people from an image, or change their appearance. It has become a casual thing to do. When we do this, are we re-writing an event or simply creating an idealised or wishful version?
- Consider the enormous potency of imagery - world leaders, political, social or economic employ it to ensure their power and supremacy. What devices do the disempowered use to subvert this potency?
Resources - History painting
- Cultural Revolution
- Dong Xiwen
- Shen Jianwei