Courses HS 2025

Introduction to East Asian Art History
(Lecture with Practical Exercises, BA, Compulsory course, 9 ECTS)

Isabelle Leemann, M.A. & Alva Speth, M.A.
Wednesday, 14:00–15:45 
Room (to be announced)

This course is designed for beginners with no prior knowledge of the subject. The module introduces the most important genres and techniques in the arts of East Asia (China, Japan and Korea) and focuses on building foundational knowledge in the iconography of East Asian art based on selected representative works. This fundamental knowledge will be discussed in the context of cultural traditions of East Asia and will be applied through oral and written exercises.

Students will learn to recognize, describe, and classify art objects discussed in class. They will know how to correctly identify the terms, techniques, and genres covered in the module and how to apply them in the visual analysis of works of art. They will be able to articulate acquired knowledge orally and in writing. In addition, they will be able to critically and independently engage with selected course readings.

Languages of instruction are English and German. All course assignments can be completed either in English or German. The ability to read academic texts in English is a prerequisite for the course.

Propaedeutics of East Asian Art History
(Seminar, BA, Compulsory course, 6 ECTS)

Dr. Stephanie Santschi
Friday, 14:00–15:45 
Room (to be announced)

Propaedeutics of East Asian Art History is a mandatory course for students who have no prior knowledge of East Asian Art History. Its key objective is to familiarize students with the fundamental practices of art history, specifically within the study of art and visual culture originating from East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea.

This module introduces students to the most important research approaches used in the analysis of visual objects from the perspective of the East Asian Art History discipline. Students learn about essential research practices and various forms of scientific expression and become acquainted with key research practices and different formats of research communication. The course also aims to develop students' analytical skills such as critical thinking and academic writing, essential for the study of art and the communication of findings. This practical knowledge is fundamental to the rest of the degree and relevant in all subsequent modules.

A mandatory tutorial is offered to deepen the course content: every Tuesday, 08:15–09:45.

Methods and Methodologies in East Asian Art History – After Ground Zero: Politically Engaged Art in Postwar Japan
(Seminar, BA, 6 ECTS)

Patricia Lenz, M.A.
Thursday, 14:00–15:45
Room (to be announced)

Japanese art is often described as non-political, as harmonious, and as portraying the consensus-oriented society. In contrast to this clichéd (Western) perception, Japanese artists have been addressing social and political concerns throughout Japan's postwar history standing in fierce disagreement with official narratives. In the immediate postwar, artists grappled with questions of war responsibility, they raised the issue social inequalities, and they engaged in anti-nuclear activism. In the 1960s and 70s, young artists and their works were at the forefront of the protests rebelling against the postwar state, questioning social attitudes, and expanding the notions of art. Today, topics such as nationalism, war memories, and marginalised groups are frequently addressed by artists in Japan while the triple disaster in 2011 (Fukushima) is an important theme.
This seminar examines dissenting voices in Japanese art from 1945 to today by focusing on key artworks. Understanding art as a political actor, it explores how artists resist the government, challenge dominant narratives and social attitudes, and raise awareness for inequalities. Through discussing important artworks and artistic currents, students gain an overview of Japanese art history from the end of the Asia-Pacific War until today. While the course centres on Japanese art, the case studies are also considered regarding their global connections, according to the concept of international contemporaneity.
Students thus can develop their skills in balancing aspects of cultural/ historical specificity and global interconnectedness when looking at contemporary non-Western artworks.

Interested students download the document "Expression of Interest Form (for courses with participant number restrictions)"here, fill it out and send the completed form to the email address: kgoa@khist.uzh.ch for registration. The booking is made manually afterwards.

This course is taught in English. The papers can be submitted in either English or German.
Please find the PDFs of the required readings on OLAT. The presentation topics will be assigned in the first session.

Lecture Inside the Art World: Collecting, Curating, and Cultural Diplomacy in the Chinese Cultural Sphere with Uli Sigg
(Lecture course, BA/MA, 3 ECTS)

Dr. Uli Sigg
Tuesday, 16:15-18:00, Tuesday, 09.12.: 18:15-20:00 (see detailed dates and times below)
Room (to be announced)

Dates and times:
Tuesday, 16.09.2025, 16:15–18:00
Tuesday, 23.09.2025, 16:15–18:00
Tuesday, 07.10.2025, 16:15–18:00
Tuesday, 28.10.2025, 16:15–18:00
Tuesday, 04.11.2025, 16:15–18:00
Tuesday, 25.11.2025, 16:15–18:00
Tuesday, 02.12.2025, 16:15–18:00
Tuesday, 09.12.2025, 18:15–20:00 (public lecture)
Tuesday, 16.12.2025, 16:15–18:00

With China playing an increasingly influential role in the global art market, this course—taught by Uli Sigg, Visiting Professor at the Chair of East Asian Art History—offers a practice-oriented introduction to the structures and dynamics of the contemporary art world.

Drawing on the extensive professional experience of Uli Sigg— Swiss entrepreneur, former ambassador to PR China, North Korea and Mongolia, prominent collector, and curator —the course critically explores the interconnected roles of collectors, curators, institutions, markets and artists in the production, circulation, and reception of contemporary art. It investigates the global contemporary art ecosystem and contextualizes cultural practices within socio-economic and political structures, both regionally and globally.

Through lectures and discussions, students will engage with key topics including collecting practices, curatorial strategies, market formation, institutional development, and the cultural politics of art patronage. Special emphasis will be placed on case studies from Sigg’s collection, exhibitions and other cultural activities, including the establishment of the M+ Sigg Collection in Hong Kong and his broader influence on the historiography and formation of the canon of contemporary Chinese art.

Open to BA, MA, and PhD students across disciplines, the course bridges academic study and professional practice, contributing to the interdisciplinary training objectives of the Chair of East Asian Art History.

Topical Readings in East Asian Art History
(Self-study with exam, MA, 6 ECTS)

Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka

2nd week of January, exam dates will be arranged individually with the students

The aim of this course is to expand and deepen the students’ knowledge about content, discourses, theories, and methodologies in the field of East Asian art history. The course is based on individual study of research literature selected by the instructor, and literature tailored to one's own research interests and research project (selected by a student and approved by the instructor). The students are expected to read and critically reflect on secondary sources in English and individually selected texts (optionally in one of the East Asian languages: Chinese, Japanese or Korean). They should be prepared to discuss these materials during the examination.

Upon booking this module through the regular module booking system, students are kindly requested to additionally register with the Assistants during the second week of the teaching period, using the provided registration form available on OLAT.
 

Material and Meaning in East Asian Art  – Species, Art and Power: Animals in East Asian Art
(Seminar, MA, 9 ECTS)

Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Wednesday, 12:15–13:45
Room (to be announced)

"Species, Art, and Power: Animals in East Asian Art" explores human-animal relations through a critical examination of art and visual culture from East Asia – specifically China, Japan, and Korea. The course moves beyond symbolic interpretations of art objects to explore their materiality-including mediums, materials, and production technologies-while also addressing ethical questions, speciesism, and interspecies creativity within a global context.

By analyzing selected artworks and visual culture objects depicting animals – from ancient religious iconography to contemporary ecological art – the course examines how visual culture both reflects and shapes the relationships between humans and nonhuman animals. It asks how do artistic practices define the boundaries between human and animal? How are animals portrayed as collaborators, commodities, and subjects of empathy? Can nonhuman animals be recognized as creative agents, and what does that mean for our understanding of art? The course also investigates the intersection of artistic depictions of animals with ideologies of power, colonialism, and environmental change, engaging with concepts from posthumanism, eco-criticism, and animal studies.

Students will engage with both historical and contemporary artworks, theoretical texts, and interdisciplinary approaches to develop a critical understanding of the changing relationships between art, animals, and human society. Through visual analysis, discussions, and research projects, this course offers the opportunity to rethink art and visual culture from a multispecies perspective and challenge the anthropocentric assumptions that have long shaped art history and the Humanities.

Curating Surimono: from research to display
(Exercise, BA/MA, 6 ECTS)

Dr. Khanh Trinh (Museum Rietberg) 
Monday, 14:00–15:45
The sessions will take place at the Museum Rietberg.

This course is conducted in conjunction with the exhibition "Japan de luxe - The art of surimono prints" at the Museum Rietberg Zurich (September 26, 2025 - May 25, 2026). The course aims to provide insights into the curatorial practice in the making-of of a thematic exhibition, in this case surimono, privately produced woodblock prints with poems. We will first explore the materiality and techniques used in the production of surimono as well as discuss connoisseurship and collecting strategies. After an introduction to the more hands-on aspects of working with surimono in a museum context, from cataloguing to conserving and displaying, the course participants will work in groups to curate a mini exhibition from scratch using the objects from the collections of the Museum Rietberg.

To receive the 6 ECTS credits for this course, students are required to present an exhibition concept and submit exhibition texts (wall texts and labels). The course will be held in German and English. All assignments may be completed in either of the two languages. Japanese language skills are not required, but an advantage.

Interested students download the document "Expression of Interest Form (for courses with participant number restrictions)"here, fill it out and send the completed form to the email address: kgoa@khist.uzh.ch for registration. The booking is made manually afterwards.

For students with Japanese language skills, it can be beneficial to combine it with the course "Introduction to Premodern Japanese Cursive Script (kuzushiji) and Research of surimono at Museum Rietberg" offered by Dr. Sebastian Balmes.

Introduction to Digital Art History
(Exercise, BA, 3 ECTS, cross-listed course)

Dr. Eva Cetinic
Monday, 16:15–18:00
Room (to be announced)

This course provides an introduction to Digital Art History, an interdisciplinary field that employs computational methods and digital tools for the study of art and visual culture. The course aims to establish a conceptual foundation for critically evaluating the possibilities and limitations of engaging with digital formats in art historical research. Special emphasis is placed on the methodological challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration. In pursuit of this aim, the course will examine how different types of data, including images, texts, and metadata, influence the selection of methods and shape the types of research questions that can be explored in digital art history. It provides an overview of various computational methods employed in the field, such as natural language processing and computer vision, tracing their evolution from early experiments to contemporary practices and advancements in artificial intelligence.
Research examples from both Western and East Asian art and art history are used to illustrate how digital methods have been applied across different cultural contexts. Participants also work in small groups on projects to develop both practical skills and theoretically informed contributions to class discussions.

Colloquium for MA and PhD Candidates
(Colloquium MA/PhD Candidates, 3 ECTS)

Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Wednesday, 16:15–18:00 (until 29.10.2025; see detailed dates and times below)
Room (to be announced)

Dates and times:
Wednesday, 17.09.2025, 16:15–18:00
Wednesday, 24.09.2025, 16:15–18:00
Wednesday, 01.10.2025, 16:15–18:00
Wednesday, 08.10.2025, 16:15–18:00
Wednesday, 15.10.2025, 16:15–18:00
Wednesday, 22.10.2025, 16:15–18:00
Wednesday, 29.10.2025, 16:15–18:00

Research Colloquium in East Asian Art History offers a platform for MA students, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers to develop their individual research projects. Participants will engage in the process of formulating research questions, identifying pertinent research materials and methodologies, and exploring relevant theoretical frameworks. They will have the opportunity to present their works in progress and receive feedback from their peers. Additionally, the colloquium will facilitate discussions on secondary sources relevant to both individual research projects and the broader field of East Asian Art History.