China in Australasia

This superbly coherent edited volume brings arts research into a fascinating and productive conversation with politics and history as it considers how arts from China have played a foundational role in shaping and altering understandings of China among those of us living in the Asia-Pacific region.

William Peterson, Senior Lecturer, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University

China in Australasia presents a rich array of studies on the history of cultural diplomacy and cross-cultural exchanges between China and Australia and New Zealand. These stories of collecting and exhibitions are all the more important for standing outside the canonical narratives of twentieth and twenty-first century Chinese international engagement, expanding our understanding of art and exchange not only in terms of the where, but also the when and how. For those outside Australasia, this innovative collection powerfully illustrates the significance of Australia’s and New Zealand’s regional engagements. For those within the region, it offers an especially timely study of these countries’ long-standing and close links to Asia, poignantly contributing to ongoing discussions about connections with their closest neighbors.

Stephen H. Whiteman, Senior Lecturer in the Art and Architecture of China, The Courtauld Institute of Art, Honorary Associate, Art History, The University of Sydney

As the first truly wide-ranging foray into this territory, China in Australasia ought to be considered an essential reader for anyone interested in learning more about the oft-overlooked role of the arts in shaping Australasia’s relations with China. It lays an important foundation for future work in this area, and the editors are to be commended for bringing together such a diverse range of research into a readable, cohesive collection.

Grace Gassin, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa