“An indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the dynamism underpinning what some are calling the Chinese Century. In these portraits of sixteen extraordinary women, whose achievements in art, dance, literature, music, and theater have profoundly shaped contemporary aesthetic, cultural, and social discourses, we glimpse worlds upon worlds, any one of which may change the very ways in which we make meaning of our time on earth. This is a treasure.” —Christopher Merrill, director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa and author of Self-Portrait with Dogwood “Is there ‘something unexplained about women that only a woman can explain’ (to rephrase Georgia O’Keeffe’s statement into a question)? Under its chief editor, also a woman—Michelle Vosper, who was Director of the Hong Kong Arts Program at the Asian Cultural Council for 25 years—Creating Across Cultures explains it vividly and movingly. I find the life stories of these artists as fascinating as their ebullient creations. In particular, Vosper has done a most remarkable and touching portrait of the source of inspiration for them all—the inimitable Nieh Hualing.” —Leo Ou-fan Lee, Sin Wai Kin Professor of Chinese Culture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and author of Shanghai Modern: The Flowering of a New Urban Culture in China, 1930–1945 “My heart is so full of joy reading this book. Creating Across Cultures is the result of many years of meticulous research, and it comprehensively documents the achievements of female aesthetics through the work of these important artists. The writing is also about real lives, their loves and struggles. Readers will connect with concrete life experiences that no abstract theories should replace.” —Eva K W Man, author of Bodies in China: Philosophy, Aesthetics, Gender and Politics Description: Creating Across Cultures is a collection of stories about visionary Asian women who have journeyed outside of their comfort zones to expand their artistic horizons. It celebrates the achievements of sixteen women in the arts from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan—a region of diverse cultures, languages and histories. Creating in a range of literary, visual and performing arts, these women must often defy cultural and social expectations in order to heed their artistic drive. Their personal histories open windows onto the larger, historical trajectory of Greater China over three generations, while their art work delves into social realities and challenges of the day. The stories are based on personal interviews and professional archives and written by a team of arts specialists, journalists and academics who bring these accounts to light in English for the first time. Richly illustrated with images of artworks and performances as well as historical photographs, the collection reveals the vibrancy, relevance and universality of the work of creative women in the region. In bringing these women’s stories together in one book, editor Michelle Vosper illuminates the value of the exchange of arts and ideas across borders and cultures, while offering inspiring role models for women aspiring to careers in the arts. Author: Michelle Vosper is an independent writer and consultant who has lived in Asia for more than half of her life. As director of the Hong Kong office of the Asian Cultural Council for 25 years, she worked closely with leading artists across the region. She now lives on a farm in rural New Jersey with her family.
