Event Details
WHAT: "Grotto Art of China or How to Become a Buddhist Cave Person," an in-person talk by Katherine Tsiang, moderated by Michael Cavayero
WHEN: Wednesday, May 20 2026, from 7-8 PM (Beijing Time). Drinks and canapes from 6.30 PM
WHERE: Paragon Book Gallery on the second floor of the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, 798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing ๅไบฌๅธๆ้ณๅบ้ ไปๆกฅ่ทฏ4ๅท798่บๆฏๅบ UCCAๅฐคไผฆๆฏๅฝไปฃ่บๆฏไธญๅฟไบๆฅผ ไฝณไฝไนฆๅฑ
MORE ABOUT THE EVENT: This talk introduces "Grotto Art of China: A Sourcebook" and its authors. This is the first systematic survey of Chinese Buddhist cave temples in English, and a recent publication following immense and painstaking international effort and research. Prof. Wu Hung from the University of Chicago proposed the sourcebook, after observing the need for such a volume as a foundational reference for students and an interested public. A group of international scholars who have made significant contributions to the research and publishing on Chinese Buddhist caves were invited to co-author the volume, which will be presented and discussed this evening at Paragon Book Gallery in UCCA.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Katherine Tsiang's interest in Buddhist art began when pursuing studies at the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies for her M.Phil degree. Her Ph.D. dissertation research at the University of Chicago focused on the Buddhist grottoes of Xiangtangshan in Hebei Province. This gave her the opportunity to travel to China and to visit other cave complexes and cultural sites. She began working in the Department of Art History at the University of Chicago in 1996 where she was Associate Director of the Center for the Art of East Asia until 2024, a role in which she oversaw and coordinated research projects, publications and digital imaging programs including publications, websites, and exhibitions. She has mostly lived in Beijing since 2022 with her husband Martin Powers, with whom she is co-editor and a co-author of the Blackwell Companion to Chinese Art.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR: Michael Cavayero is Assistant Professor and Research Professor of Chinese Art History and Theory at Peking University's School of Arts. He is also cross-appointed as Research Professor at the Research Center for Aesthetics and Aesthetic Education at Peking University. His main research and teaching interests center on the interrelationship between art and religion, with a focus on the impact of Buddhist philosophy, art, and aesthetics on premodern Chinese aesthetics and painting theory.
HOW MUCH: RMB 250 for members of RASBJ and of partner RAS branches, RMB 350 for non-members. Includes a welcome drink and canapรฉs. You may find payment by Alipay easier than by Wechat; you can also pay by credit card. Kindly note, RASBJ does not issue fapiao.
Interested in becoming an RASBJ member? Please sign up at https://rasbj.glueup.cn/org/rasbeijing/memberships
HOW TO JOIN THE EVENT: Please click "Register" or "I Will Attend" at least 48 hours before the event, and follow the instructions. After successful registration you will receive a confirmation email. If you appear not to have received it, please check your spam folder.
REFUND POLICY: If RASBJ cancels or postpones the event, registrants will be refunded.
