Kaz Tsuruta

"The work of twentieth-century Chinese women artists is now coming into focus," writes Asian Art Museum director Emily J. Sano in her preface to this book, "illuminating many remarkable stories of talent, resilience, and will."One of those stories is that of Fang Zhaoling (1914-2006). This catalogue sheds needed light on her long career, during which she consistently produced innovative work of charm and distinction. Her paintings are marked by a delightful style that is distinctly her own.Fang Zhaoling was an engaged artist who did not shy from addressing political and social issues. In her choice of subjects and inscriptions, she spoke with a clear and compelling voice that called out to be heard.

This Chinese art book profiles the modern, metallic sculptures of one of China's greatest contemporary artists.Rocks Into Gold is an exhibition of site-specific sculptures by Zhan Wang, one of China's most celebrated contemporary artists. The exhibition incorporates elements from two strains of the artist's work: his "scholar's rocks," sculptures in which Zhan creates shiny stainless steel replicas of the weather-worn boulders traditionally used in China for contemplation and reflection; and his "cityscape" sculptures in which Zhan creates topographical models of urban landscapes using mirrored utensils, steel pots, and pans. Combining these two distinct styles, Zhan has created an original work for the Asian Art Museum that will carry a unified theme drawing upon San Francisco and its history.Rocks Into Gold explores a sense of place, discovery and exploration while touching upon the histories of China, the American Western frontier and Chinese American immigration.

Filled with over 170 classical Indian works of art and expert commentary, Kingdom of the Sun is a welcome addition to the field of Indian art history.Few regions of India have so excited the imagination as has the princely state of Mewar, which has been celebrated as the most heroic and illustrious of the Rajput states. Despite this, relatively little writing has been devoted to the innovative artists whose work helped to establish the state's reputation. Kingdom of the Sun: Indian Court and Village Art from the Princely State of Mewar addresses that deficiency by gathering some of the finest works of Indian art. The pieces range from the early sixteenth century to the twentieth century. At the core is a selection of works that dramatically conveys the brilliance of Mewar painting. The exhibition brings to life some of the great individual Mewari painters-especially Bakhta (1760-1810) and Chokha (1799-1824)-who previously have been largely relegated to anonymity. For his book, original essays were commissioned from leading scholars-these essays represent a significant advancement in scholarship related to Mewar. Exhibition curator Joanna Williams has also written detailed entries for each of the objects on display. The result is a book that gives an intimate sense of an extraordinary place and the remarkable people who created a legacy there, one that continues to fascinate to this day.

Through dozens of beautiful art pieces and lively commentary, this charming art book explores the legacies of five centuries of interaction between Asia and Europe. The mutual fascination began with the sea contact made during the early Renaissance. Although relations beween East and West could often turn deadly, there were also many moments of lightness and frivolity, and it is these that are given special attention here. Such moments enchant and disarm, yet, as this book shows, they also bear deeper implications. A Curious Affair was produced to accompany an exhibition of the same name, presented at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. The exhibition featured more than 75, sculptures, furniture, ceramics, and other decorative arts. Included were artworks made in Great Britain, the United States, and France, as well as in China, India, Japan, and other Asian countries. They were drawn from private San Francisco Bay Area collections and the collection of the Asian Art Museum.

Bridge to Understanding, highlights hundreds of the finest Asian paintings, sculptures, and textiles from the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco as well as the architecture of the new building itself.In the spring of 2003 the Asian Art Muesum-home to one of the world's most significant collections of Asian art-moved into a historic building, reconfigured by the renowned architect Gae Aulenti, in the dynamic heart of San Francisco. The occasion is an important event not only for the institution but also for the city, which now more than ever may serve as a bridge between East and West. Celebrating the museum's stunning new home, Bridge to Understanding showcases both the beauty of the building and the depth of the collection, highlighting many treasures that could not previously be displayed. Exploring the museum's role in promoting cross-cultural understanding, the text interweaves the history of the museum with the history of the city. it delves into the development, construction, and renovation of the building, which retains such historic features as a monumental beaux arts staircase, while adding a dramatic indoor / outdoor escalator, a new third level, and signature V-shaped skylights that illuminate an indoor courtyard designed by the architect on the model of an Italian piazza. Featuring a full-color gallery of Asian masterworks from the museum's collection, Bridge to Understanding confirms the museum's significance as one of the foremost institutions of Asian art in the world.