BOOKREVIEW
 
TRADITION AND CHANGE : CONTEMPORARY ART OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC 

By Esther de Charon de Saint Germain

For years theories and literature on western and non-western contemporary
art were generated only in the western part of the world, written by
western specialists. This situation has now altered and experts who were
born, raised, and educated in non-western countries are considered a
welcome change. They are now telling us their own, inside, story, instead
of the more detached version of the West. Evidence of this change was
published last year in 'Tradition and Change : Contemporary Art of Asia and
the Pacific'.
'Tradition and Change' gives a clear idea of the current debate on Asian
contemporary art theory, as well as a survey of the history of modern art
in Asia and the South Pacific. A very witty but controversial introduction
is written by Apinan Poshyananda, professor in the Arts of the
Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. His article is significant for the
self-awareness of the Asian specialists. 'Tradition and Change' will be an
eye-opener for those not familiar in the fields of contemporary art and art
theory in Asia and the Pacific, and a valuable source of information for
the experts.

'TRADITION AND CHANGE: CONTEMPORARY ART OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC', CAROLINE
TURNER ED., QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY, 1993