Exploring diverse artistic traditions allows arts students to broaden their global perspectives, deemed essential for today’s interconnected world. The study of Chinese art, among other global artworks, offers insights into both historical and contemporary civilizations.
At the College of Arts and Sciences, students can enroll in “History of Art 300: Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art,” which is led by Yifan Li, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Art and Music Histories. Yifan Li engages with students, such as during visits to the Syracuse University Art Museum to view China-related artworks.
Li emphasizes the unique nature of Chinese art, influenced by international exchanges and the adoption of new technologies in visual culture. An engaging part of his class includes hands-on opportunities where students examine pieces from the museum’s collections. A recent focus was on woodcuts by Chinese American artist Seong Moy, such as his piece “Love on the Yangtse” from 1951.
Through museum collaborations, Li aims to enhance students’ cultural understanding, foster critical thinking, and introduce potential career paths in curation and conservation. “The art museum serves as a vital pedagogical resource, enabling faculty members to integrate experiential and community-engaged learning approaches that transcend conventional classroom boundaries,” Li explains, emphasizing how studying museum collections benefits students’ academic and professional development.
In the upcoming Fall 2025 semester, Li will teach “HOA 300 M001 Selected Topics: Studies in Asian Art,” covering artistic traditions of China, Japan, and Korea. The course spans from the Neolithic period to the present, offering in-depth analyses of various media, such as bronze vessels and Buddhist sculptures, to explore art’s role in religious, political, and societal transformations.
