Rethinking Great Women Artists in Asia and the Asian Diaspora: From the Early 20th Century to the Present
Session will present: On locationThis session examines the contributions of contemporary women artists from Asia and the Asian diaspora, such as Lee Bul, Minsong Kim, Kimsooja, Jeong Geum Hyung, Summer Mei-Ling Lee, and Yu Hong, who utilize the body as a site of resistance, memory, and transformation in their transmedia practices. Organized around key themes such as ritual, domesticity, politics, feminism, and social change, the session explores how these artists challenge patriarchal norms, negotiate tradition and modernity, and assert cultural autonomy amidst historical trauma and globalization. It asks: How did Asian and Asian diaspora women artists come to take such a leading role in social activism and feminist discourse through art? How are these societal shifts reflected in contemporary Asian feminist art? This focus on the body as a site of feminist expression allows us to reconsider the role of Asian women as central agents in the production of global contemporary art. By addressing these artists’ engagements with both gender stereotypes and shared roots of resistance, this session highlights their transformative impact on the global art scene and postcolonial discourse, offering critical perspectives on gender, identity, and cultural politics. Ultimately, this session aims to reposition Asian women artists from the margins of art history to the center of contemporary discourse, underscoring their vital role in shaping the narrative of art in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Keywords:
Geographic Area: Asia
Topics: Asian Diaspora
Time Period: Twentieth Century
Topics: Women
Medium: Interdisciplinary
Chair:
Yipaer Aierken, California State University, Sacramento
Abstract Submissions Closed
