Of the Earth 本土

Of the Earth is a podcast created by Cortney Chaffin and Ellen Larson, two art historians who have dedicated themselves to the study of over 5,000 years of material culture from China. The program’s title comes from the Chinese word 本土 (bentu), meaning “native soil.” In each episode, Of the Earth digs into a wide range of topics, introducing listeners to the many connections, complexities, and contradictions of Chinese art and culture, across time and space.

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Of the Earth 本土

Xu Bing: The Art of Non-Being

March 14, 2022 • Cortney Chaffin & Ellen Larson • Season 1 • Episode 6

In this episode of Of the Earth we chat about one our all time favorites, contemporary artist Xu Bing 徐冰. We share our experiences co-curating his 2012 exhibition at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, along with the artist's many Wisconsin connections. Considering works like Book from the Sky (1987-1991) and Background Story: A New Approach to Traditional Landscape Painting (2004-ongoing), we explore the relationship of Xu's works to the Chinese concept of Wu (non-being, emptiness).

For more on Xu Bing's art works visit his website here.

Read about Huang Gongwang's famous handscroll Wandering in the Fuchun Mountains at Smarthistory.

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