Challenging Orientalism: New Perspectives on Perception and Reception, an Introduction

Abstract

Orientalist art occupies a complicated and often contradictory position in the twenty-first century. Having observed that recent exhibitions suggest significant differences between how this art is theorised and how it is presented to and received by the public, it is timely to interrogate anew the interpretation of Orientalist art, and to examine and bring together new academic work currently being undertaken on the topic. This special issue provides a platform for authors to survey and take up the field in multiple new directions. This introduction briefly presents the genesis of the ‘Challenging Orientalism' project and comments on the six select studies of the issue. They all contribute to expanding the traditional borders of this field with a variety of materials, geographies and contexts, and offer novel studies of Orientalist art from the nineteenth century to the modern day, notably providing insights into its contemporary display and reception.

Keywords:

• Orientalism
• art
• reception
• Orientalist art

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emily Christensen

Dr Emily Christensen is an Associate Lecturer at The Courtauld Institute of Art. Emily teaches European nineteenth and twentieth century art, and on issues of empire and representation in Orientalism. Her PhD research explored the role of ‘the Orient’ in the development of Wassily Kandinsky’s artistic strategies as he experimented with abstraction. Current projects include collaborating on an exhibition about the reception of Islamic art in twentieth century Europe at the Kunsthaus Zürich and co-curating a forthcoming exhibition in the Courtauld Gallery Project Space entitled ‘Drawing on Arabian Nights.' She has published in The Burlington Magazine, Aesthetica Universalis and Manazir.

Erica Payet

Erica Payet recently completed her PhD on photography in the First Persian Gulf War (1990–1991) at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Her interdisciplinary research draws on art history, postcolonial theory, and media, war, and visual studies. She studied art history and the history of photography at École du Louvre, Paris, and Cultural and Creative Industries at King’s College, London. She has been Exhibitions Manager at Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, an Associate Lecturer at the Courtauld Institute, and an Associate Editor for the Courtauld’s Immediations. Her articles have appeared in Photography & Culture and in the bilingual journal Miranda.