We will situate ourselves in the Asian continent and evaluate maps of the areas we will explore in this class. We will move from east to west in the class, from China to Western Africa. In this first week, we start our dive into the long-lasting artistic traditions of China. We will look at some of the earliest surviving works from the area, including bronze and pottery, discussing why more materials do not survive. We will discuss the importance of precious materials, specifically Porcelain. 

 Students will continue their exploration of Chinese art traditions. We will evaluate different styles of Chinese calligraphy and painting and discuss how different dynasties had different expectations. Specifically, we will unpack the traditions of ink-wash painting and courtly, silk painting. In this class, we will highlight the dual practices of Chinese art--meditative, religious art creation and courtly art production. Time given, we will introduce the arts of Japan in this class. 

 First, we will learn about the history of Japanese printwork, looking at some of Japan's most famous artists--Hiroshige and Hokusai! We will discuss techniques for creating prints, specifically ukiyo-e, and how they impacted Western art after the end of Japanese isolationism. Further, we will discuss the importance of paper art, or origami,  and how it has developed over time. Finally, we will spend a bit looking at Manga, Anime, and how they connect to earlier traditions. 

 We will focus on how Buddhism has impacted the arts in this area of the world in different ways. For example, we will travel to Tibet and look at sand mandalas as an emanation of the Buddhist belief that materials are transitory and constantly changing. We will also evaluate large scale relief sculptures of Indonesia and how they represent the human form. Finally, students will travel to Cambodia to the temple at Ankgor Wat, the largest religious site in the world.