Chair of East Asian Art History

The Chair in East Asian Art History at the Institute of Art History, University of Zurich is dedicated to the study of art and visual cultures of China, Japan and Korea, spanning from ancient to contemporary times.  

Established over five decades ago and standing as the sole chair dedicated to East Asian Art History in Switzerland, the Chair, rooted in both wide international academic networks and rich collections of East Asian art kept in the country, serves as an important research and education hub for East Asian art history in Switzerland and beyond.  

On this website, you may find information about current events, study programs, and ongoing research projects at the chair for East Asian Art History.

The Chair combines practical hands-onresearch and critical theory perspectives to investigate East Asian art objects, their production, reception and circulation (including transnational and global interactions), advocating for inclusive, diverse approaches to studying of artefacts from different cultures. These principles guide the Chair’s research as well as its pedagogy, which stresses research-based education.  

Balancing critical theory approaches with object-based practices,teaching is conducted in diverse formats including seminars, lectures, practical exercises,excursions and colloquia as well as workshops and conferences. Favoring inquiry-based learning, hands-on study, field trips and guest speakers, the aim is to foster curiosity and provide students a pathway to versatile intellectual and professional development, preparing them for careers both within and outside the art world. 

Our Zurich Lectures in East Asian Art History Series brings in international speakers on a regular basis for exchange over the most recent developments in and beyond our field.

The prestigious Zurich Lectures in East Asian Art History bring distinguished scholars to Zurich to deliver keynote lectures on current topics and novel approaches in the field. Established with the goal of mapping innovative research in East Asian Art History, offer broad perspectives on the state of research in East Asian Art. The lectures are open to the public, and all interestd parties are cordially invited to attend. Together, we facilitate meaningful dialogue with the public beyond our discipline.  

The Zurich Lectures serve as a forum of knowledge exchange on topics related to East Asian Art in Switzerland and beyond. Supported by the exceptional environment of museums, galleries and private collections in an around Zurich, the lectures gather a community of diverse professional and intellectual backgrounds. We believe in the value of such breadth, both to facilitate student-led initiatives and to enhance the impact of academic research.

About the Zurich Lectures in East Asian Art History

Contact

Universität Zürich
Department of Art History  
Raemistr. 73  
CH-8006 Zuerich  
Switzerland    

Office: RAK 3-302  
Tel.: 044 634 28 33 (dir.)  
Tel.: +41 44 634 28 31 (secretariat)
E-Mail: ewa.machotka@khist.uzh.ch   

Consultations

Fridays, 9:00–11:00, by appointment (ewa.machotka@khist.uzh.ch)

Please sign up for our program newsletter to keep up to date about news and events: https://khist.lists.uzh.ch/sympa/subscribe/kgoanews

To stop receiving our updates, please use this link:https://khist.lists.uzh.ch/sympa/signoff/kgoanews 

For general inquiries, please feel free to contact us atkgoa@khist.uzh.ch. Please be sure to keep your questions concise and concrete.

Universität Zürich
Institute of Art History
Chair of East Asian Art History
Raemistrasse 73
8006 Zurich
Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0)44 634 45 95 / +41 (0)44 634 59 44
E-Mail: kgoa@khist.uzh.ch