Fields of Research (FoR)
Art history, theory and criticism, Heritage, archive and museum studies, Visual cultures, Asian cultural studiesBiography
Shuxia is an art historian and curator. She holds a PhD from the Australian National University, an MA in Art History and Theory from the University of Sydney, and an MA in Studio Art (Honours) from Sydney College of the Arts. Her research concerns the relationship between visual art, society and politics in China, particularly the role of photography in forming new understandings of the transversal space between state and the...view more
Shuxia is an art historian and curator. She holds a PhD from the Australian National University, an MA in Art History and Theory from the University of Sydney, and an MA in Studio Art (Honours) from Sydney College of the Arts. Her research concerns the relationship between visual art, society and politics in China, particularly the role of photography in forming new understandings of the transversal space between state and the cultural-intellectual classes in the socialist and post-socialist era. She joins UNSW Art & Design with rich interdisciplinary knowledge between art history and theory, Chinese Studies and sociology, spanning research, publication and teaching, as well as significant industry experience in the GLAM sector. Her recent publications include A Home for Photography Learning: the Friday Salon, 1977-1980 (Shanghai Fine Art Publishing House, 2024), and Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature (Power Publications, 2024). In addition to her 0.5 lecturer position here, she is also Curator, China Gallery, Chau Chak Wing Museum, the University of Sydney.
My Grants
- David Scott Memorial Fellowship, State Library of New South Wales, 2022
- Travelling Fellowship, the Australian Academy of the Humanities, 2020 (postponed)
- China Professional Placement, Australia Council for the Arts, 2020
- The Taiwan National Photographic Assets Curatorial Project Grant by Ministry of Culture, Taiwan, 2020
- Publication grant, Gordon Darling Foundation, 2020
- Visiting Scholar, Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, 2017
- Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Greater China Curatorial Residency Programme 2014
- Travel Grant, Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong, 2013
- Community Grant for exhibition Make yourself at home, City of Sydney, 2012
My Qualifications
BBA (Hons) MVA (Hons) MA PhD
My Research Activities
Current research projects include:
- The "Grey Zone": Self-Organised Photography Groups in Beijing, 1977-1988
- Amateur Photographic Practice and its Cultural Networks in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 1970s-1990s
My Research Supervision
Supervision keywords
Areas of supervision
Shuxia is currently accepting HDR students wishing to research on modern and contemporary Asian art and photography, socialist and post-socialist visual culture in Asia, art collectives and networks in Asia, amateur art practice, Asia and Asian-Australian exhibitions and history, curatorial practice and history in Asia and Australia. She welcomes postgraduate projects, including both practice-led and thesis-only candidates.
My Teaching
SAHT9131 Museum and Visual Cultures in the Asia-Pacific
SAHT9117 Contemporary Curating
ADAD 9312 Leadership in the Cultural and Creative Industries