The paper discusses the evolving interplay between American art and Asian influences, highlighting the demographic and cultural shifts resulting from increased Asian American presence and global interconnectedness. It examines scholarly efforts to redefine American art in this context, notably through recent conferences and publications that emphasize the importance of Asian artistic interchange within a historically Eurocentric framework. The discussion raises questions about the representation, reception, and appreciation of Asian contributions to American art and suggests a growing recognition of the diverse influences that shape contemporary American culture.
“Before Zen: The Nothing of American Dada,” in East-West Interchanges in American Art: A Long and Tumultuous Relationship, ed. Cynthia Mills. Washington, DC. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2012.