Courses FS 2026

Practical Class with Regional Focus China: Introduction to Chinese Art History (06SM642-012)
(Exercise, BA, 9 ECTS) 

Alva Speth, M.A.
Wednesday, 14:00–15:45 
RoomRAA-E-27

The course offers a general introduction to objects, monuments, materials, techniques, themes, subjects, and genres of Chinese art and material culture from the Neolithic period up until the 21st century. Among the diverse study topics discussed in the course are early jade and bronze artifacts, funerary art, Buddhist and Daoist art and architecture, Chinese calligraphy and painting, woodblock printing, Chinese modern and contemporary art as well as different artistic phenomena including the commercialization and professionalization of art. The artworks in focus will be analyzed and discussed taking into account their historical and social contexts and as parts of the most important artistic trends and developments in the history of Chinese art. The course will progress chronologically, with a focus on specific topics.

This class is an introductory-level course and is open to students of all levels, including beginners with no prior knowledge of Chinese or East Asian art. 
Class requirements will consist of written assignments, a short oral presentation, and a written exam. The course will be mainly taught in English. All assignments may be completed in English or German.

Subjects and Themes in Art and Visual Culture in East Asia:
Art and Nation in East Asia (06SM642-524)
(Seminar, MA, 9 ECTS)

Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Wednesday, 12:15-13:45
Room RAA-E-27

"Art and Nation in East Asia" investigates how art and visual culture have imagined, contested, and circulated ideas of the nation across China, Japan, and Korea. Moving beyond stylistic labels and canonical narratives, the course examines how art objects, art critique and art infrastructure (art schools, world's fairs, museums, biennials) participate in the politics of national identification, cultural heritage and memory. Through focused case studies, the course asks: How do artistic practices define who and what belongs to the nation? How are "national styles" fabricated, branded, or resisted? What roles do collecting, curating, and education play in turning art into national property? And how do global markets and soft-power campaigns reshape what counts as "national art" today? Students engage historical and contemporary works alongside theoretical texts on nationalism, transculturation, and visuality. Through close looking, seminar discussion, and an individual research project, the course develops critical tools for evaluating the stakes of calling something "national art" and for situating East Asian examples within wider debates about culture, identity, and power.

Aktuelle Themen zur Rezeption von ostasiatischer Kunst: 
Narrative Layers: Unveiling and Rewriting East Asian Art (06SM642-024)
(Seminar, BA, 6 ECTS)

Dr. Stephanie Santschi & Isabelle Leemann, M.A.
Thursday, 10:15-12:00
Room RAA-E-12

This BA seminar examines how art historical narratives are constructed, maintained, and can be rewritten in East Asian art history. Students will investigate the mechanisms behind historiographical myth-making, including the cult of artistic "genius," colonial frameworks, and institutional structures that shape our understanding of East Asian art. Critically, this course reflects on our own position as students and researchers studying East Asian art from Zurich-geographically, temporally, and conceptually distant from the cultures and time periods we examine. Through critical analysis of case studies-from the Hokusai phenomenon and the British Museum's Samurai exhibition to Japanese colonial narratives about Korean art and the discourse of literati painting theory in Chinese art history-students will explore how institutional practices, political powers, scholarly discourse, and market forces create and reinforce particular narratives while obscuring others. The course connects these historiographical questions to contemporary issues of historical revisionism, decolonization, and the recovery of marginalized voices, while acknowledging that we ourselves participate in specific institutional and intellectual traditions that shape how we "see" East Asian art.

The language of instruction is English; all course assignments can be completed either in English or German.

Designing Japan: Architecture and Society from the Origins to the 21st century (06SM642o003)
(Lecture course, BA/MA, 3 ECTS)

Dr. Marco Pompili
Tuesday, 12:15–13:45
Room SOC-F-106

This lecture course surveys the diverse architectural traditions of Japan spanning from the ancient Kofun tombs to the contemporary era. The course centres on ten thematic areas, thus providing a comprehensive overview of the features of Japanese architecture. Each thematic area discusses a different design aspect (e.g. timber construction, the roof in Japanese architecture) and the historical development and conceptual content of these aspects is demonstrated through a number of selected case studies. These include examples of Japan's religious, residential and civic architecture such as Shintō shrines, Buddhist temples, and feudal castles. They also include the most prominent examples of postwar and contemporary architecture (e.g. the work of Tange Kenzo, postwar avant-garde, and the development of housing). The cultural significance and ability of architecture to respond to contextual, social, and environmental challenges are key themes in this course-for example the introduction of Buddhism and state building, architecture and nature. The lecture series does not follow a chronological order; rather, it employs a non-linear narrative that facilitates connections between diverse developments and continuities in Japanese architecture over time, from the origins to the present. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to look at architecture as a discipline shaped by ideas, social constraints, and technology; to explain the development of Japanese architecture; to explain the influential role of Japanese architecture and its global recognition.

Critical Readings in East Asian Art History (06ST642-501a)

(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.

The list of required readings is available on OLAT.

Excursion: East Asian Art Collections in the UK: 
Exploring East Asian Art in London: Collections and Conversations (06EX642o002a)
(Excursion, BA/MA, 3 ECTS)

Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka & Dr. Stephanie Santschi
Time of preparatory meetings to be announced.
Excursion dates: Sunday, April 19 - Thursday, April 23, 2026

This excursion takes students into major London collections of East Asian art, likely including the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Through guided viewing and discussion, students will examine how these institutions display, interpret, and contextualize East Asian objects. The excursion is also planned to include a workshop with lecturers and students from SOAS, University of London, exploring current approaches to curating, researching, and teaching East Asian art together. Students will develop critical skills in looking at objects, understanding museum practice, and engaging with scholarly debates in the field.

The excursion will be complemented by a preparatory session before trip, as well as preparatory assignments through which students will familiarize themselves with the objects and collections kept by the three institutions, and the academic discourses relevant for the study of the objects and institutions in question.

Costs for travel and accommodation will be partially refunded.

To participate in this excursion, students must complete the "Expression of Interest" form available at: t1p.de/isufy
Please submit your completed form by February 16, 2026 (start of semester) to kgoa@khist.uzh.ch to secure your place.

IMPORTANT: It is each student's responsibility to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the UK well in advance of the excursion. The ETA application process can take several days, and last-minute applications may not be processed in time. Please check your visa requirements and apply as early as possible to avoid any travel complications. More information is available at: www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

Methods in Digital (Art) Curation: The Sigg Collection (06SM642o001)
(Exercise, BA/MA, 6 ECTS)

Dr. Stephanie Santschi
Wednesday, 10:15–12:00
Room RAA-E-29

This hands-on Übung explores digital curation through practical work with contemporary Chinese art from the Uli Sigg Collection. Students get familiarized with three digital methodologies that center on networks, virtual display and story mapping, before collaborating in teams to create components of a unified digital exhibition. The course develops technical proficiency with digital tools and critical awareness of how digital methodologies shape art historical interpretation. Through experimental sessions and project development, students practice curatorial decision-making while examining how digital platforms enable multiple simultaneous narratives from the same cultural materials.

The course will culminate into an exhibition launch event in the first weeks of June 2026 (date tba).

Please bring your own laptop.

Curating East Asian Art: Approaches and Practices (06SM642o004)
(Exercise, BA/MA, 3 ECTS)

Isabelle Leemann, M.A.
Monday, 14:00–15:45 
Room RAA-E-12

How do curatorial decisions about selection, arrangement, interpretation, and display of objects create meaning and construct narratives? In what ways do exhibitions function as both aesthetic experiences and sites of knowledge production? What are the ethical responsibilities involved in exhibiting objects from cultures different from one's own? 
This course addresses these questions by exploring different curatorial practices with a focus on East Asian art and transcultural curating strategies. Through case studies ranging from key past exhibitions of East Asian art to contemporary examples (e.g. participatory and community-based exhibitions, digital and interactive displays, seasonal and relational installations), students examine diverse concepts, methods, and theoretical frameworks that shape how objects are collected, interpreted, and displayed. The course also investigates the multifaceted role of the curator, as caretaker, storyteller, mediator, and producer of knowledge. Drawing on critical theories from semiotics to postcolonial studies, students critically engage with both established conventions and innovative approaches to curating East Asian art.
The course combines theoretical readings and case study analysis with hands-on examination of exhibitions during small excursions to nearby exhibition venues. Through discussions, presentations, and exercises, students will develop skills to critically analyze curatorial processes and gain practical competencies for ethically informed curatorial practice in a transcultural context.

The languages of instruction are English and German; all course assignments may be completed in either language.

Research Colloquium in East Asian Art History
(Kolloquium MA/PhD Candidates, 3 ECTS)

Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Tuesday, 14:00–15:45 (see dates and times below)
Room RAA-E-12

Dates and times:
Session 1: Tuesday, 24.02.2026, 14:00–15:45 
Session 2: Tuesday, 10.03.2026, 14:00–15:45 
Session 3: Tuesday, 24.03.2026, 14:00–15:45 
Session 4: Tuesday, 14.04.2026, 14:00–15:45 
Session 5: Tuesday, 28.04.2026, 14:00–15:45 
Session 6: Tuesday, 12.05.2026, 14:00–15:45 
Session 7: Tuesday, 26.05.2026, 14:00–15:45 

Note: The dates listed above may be subject to change. The exact dates will be confirmed once the course starts and will be announced on OLAT.

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.