Paint by Numbers

The journey of Chinese art—from mass-produced propaganda in the Mao era to modern-day market darling—mirrors China's own momentous changes like few other disciplines. Today, in both contemporary art and contemporary Chinese society, commerce and politics coexist in a delicate balance, which some call sensible and others, selling out. By traveling to the studios of renowned Chinese artists, hearing their rags-to-riches tales and interviewing the critics, curators, and collectors that have been around since its idealistic beginnings, author Claire van den Heever paints a picture of Chinese art's bumpy path to commercial and critical success, and uncovers the secrets it tried to keep along the way.