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Dr Shuxia Chen

Dr Shuxia Chen

Senior Lecturer

BBA (Hons) MVA (Hons) MA PhD?

Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
School of Art & Design

Shuxia Chen is a historian and curator of Chinese art and photography. Her research concerns cultural network, art collectives, and amateur and diasporic artistic practice in the Sinophone world. Her recent republished edited volumes include Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s¨C1980s (2025),?A Home for Photography Learning: The Friday Salon, 1977¨C1980 (2024) and Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature (2024). Her recent curatorial projects include ¡®The trace is not a presence ¡­¡¯ (2024), 'Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature' (2023), ¡®Sentient Paper¡¯ (2022) and ¡®Wayfaring: Photography in 1970s¨C80s Taiwan¡¯ (2021). Chen was the inaugural curator of the China Gallery and East Asian Collections at the University of Sydney¡¯s Chau Chak Wing Museum. She is currently a senior lecturer in the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership at the University of New South Wales School of Art & Design.
E-mail
shuxia.chen@unsw.edu.au
Location
Oxford St & Greens Rd, Paddington NSW 2021
  • Books | 2025
    Chen S; Krischer O, 2025, Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s¨C1980s, Chen S; Krischer O, (ed.), Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University, Canberra,
  • Book Chapters | 2025
    Chen S; Krischer O; Lee W-I, 2025, 'Sightlines: Taiwanese Photography Publications from the 1970s to 1980s¡ªA Conversation with Lee Wei-I', in Chen S; Krischer O (ed.), Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s¨C1980s,
    Book Chapters | 2025
    Chen S; Krischer O; Yao J-C, 2025, 'Photography and Contemporary Art in 1990s Taiwan: A Conversation with Yao Jui-Chung', in Chen S; Krischer O (ed.), Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s-80s
    Book Chapters | 2025
    Chen S; Krischer O, 2025, 'Photographies of 1950s¨C1980s Taiwan: ¡®Wayfaring¡¯ a Field in (Trans)formation', in Chen S; Krischer O (ed.), Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s-80s
    Book Chapters | 2025
    Chen S; Liu C-H, 2025, 'Becoming a Photographer of 1980s Taiwan: an Interview with Liu Chen-Hsiang', in Chen S; Krischer O (ed.), Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s-80s,
    Book Chapters | 2025
    Chen S, 2025, 'Picturing a Psychic World of 1980s Taiwan: The Photography of Lien Hui-Ling and Hou Tsung-Hui', in Chen S; Krischer O (ed.), Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s-80s
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Chen S; Carter EA; Leung L; Swarbrick B; Harrison T; Kim M-J; Freeman M; Donnelly P, 2024, 'Material Matters: the Scientific Analysis of Chinese Toggles', in Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature, Power Publications, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Chen S; Donnelly P, 2024, 'Introducing Chinese Culture in Miniature: a Multifaceted Examination of the Toggle', in Chen S; Kim M-J (ed.), Chinese Toggles Culture in Miniature, Power Publication, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Chen S; Gu F, 2024, 'Jade Toggles and Carving in the Qing Dynasty', in Chen S; Kim M-J (ed.), Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature, Power Publications, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Chen S, 2024, 'Chinese Toggles at Play: Bawan and the Cultivating Hand', in Chen S; Kim M-J (ed.), Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature, Power Publications, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Chen S, 2024, 'Chinese Toggles at Scale: Miniatures and Metaphoric Spaces', in Chen S; Kim M-J (ed.), Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature, Power Publications, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Chen S, 2022, 'A Home for Photography Learning: the Friday Salon, 1977-1980', in Chen S (ed.), A Home for Photography Learning: the Friday Salon, 1977-1980, Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, Shanghai
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Chen S, 2021, 'Lindy Lee', in Stephen A (ed.), Light and Darkness Late Modernism and the JW Power Collection, Power Publications
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Chen S, 2018, 'Ren Hang: Bodies Without Redemption', in Gilded Age: Made In China Year Book 2017, ANU Press, Canberra,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Chen S, 2017, 'Chinese Photography', in Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism, Routledge, UK,
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Chen S, 2016, 'Authentically Socialist: a window on a Communist utopia¡¯', in PLA Picture Pub: Long Live the Glorious ¡®May Seventh Directive¡¯, Errata Editions, New York
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Chen S, 2015, 'Looking Backward: Chinese Art in 2014', in Shared Destiny: China Story Year Book 2014,
  • Edited Books | 2025
    Chen S; Krischer O, (ed.), 2025, Wayfaring: Photography in Taiwan, 1950s¨C1980s, Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University, Canberra,
    Edited Books | 2024
    Chen S; Kim M-J, (ed.), 2024, Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature, Power Publications, Sydney
    Edited Books | 2024
    Chen S, (ed.), 2024, A Home for Photography Learning: the Friday Salon, 1977¨C1980, Shanghai Fine Arts Publishing House (ÉϺ£Êé»­³ö°æÉç), Shanghai
    Edited Books | 2022
    Chen S, (ed.), 2022, A Home for Photography Learning: the Friday Salon, 1977-1980, Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, Shanghai
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Chen S, 2024, 'Tracing Chinese-Australian Histories: a Conversation between Cyrus Tang, John Young and Shuxia Chen', MUSE
    Journal articles | 2023
    Chen S, 2023, 'Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature¡ªa Chau Chak Wing Museum and Powerhouse Museum Project', TAASA Review
    Journal articles | 2023
    Chen S, 2023, 'Picturing a Lost Tradition', MUSE
    Journal articles | 2022
    Chen S, 2022, 'Sentient Paper at the Chau Chak Wing Museum, Sydney', TAASA Review
    Journal articles | 2022
    Chen S, 2022, 'The Power of Paper', MUSE
    Journal articles | 2022
    Krischer O; Chen S, 2022, 'Wayfaring: Picturing Self and Society at the end of Taiwan's Martial Law', TAASA Review, 31, pp. 12 - 13,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Chen S, 2020, 'Auspicious beings in Chinese Art', MUSE
    Journal articles | 2020
    Chen S, 2020, 'Chau Chak Wing Museum¡¯s Asian Collection: the China Gallery and Its Inaugural Exhibition Auspicious', TAASA Review
    Journal articles | 2020
    Chen S, 2020, 'Photography Institutions Burgeoning in China', Trans-Asia Photography Review,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Chen S; Zhou D; Shi Z, 2019, 'Photographic Praxis in China, 1930s-1980s: A conversation with Chen Shuxia, Shi Zhimin, and Zhou Dengyan about Shi Shaohua and the Friday Salon', Trans-Asia Photography Review,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Chen S, 2019, 'A Home for Photography Learning: the Friday Salon, 1977-1980', Yishu: Journal of Contemporary Chinese Art
    Journal articles | 2017
    Chen S, 2017, 'Departing from Socialist Realism: the April Photo Society, 1979-1981', Trans-Asia Photography Review,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Chen S, 2015, 'Manipulation as Art: Photographs by Xu Zhuo, 1979¨C1981', Trans-Asia Photography Review,
    Journal articles | 2010
    Chen S, 2010, 'Edge of elsewhere', Artforum International
    Journal articles | 2010
    Chen S, 2010, 'The 17th Biennale of Sydney', Artforum International
    Journal articles | 2010
    Chen S, 2010, 'Wang Jianwei: the great politics of human interaction', Realtime
    Journal articles | 2008
    Chen S, 2008, 'Julian Schnabel', Artforum International
    Journal articles | 2008
    Chen S, 2008, 'Roland Fischer', Artforum International
  • Creative Written Works | 2024
    Chen S, 2024, The work of Chinese artist Cao Fei explores our brave new human condition in a technological world,
    Conference Presentations | 2024
    Chen S, 2024, 'Photography, Photocopying, and Lianhuanhua: The Early Works of Wang Youshen, 1985-1990', presented at Historical Frames, Current Dialogue: Multidisciplinary Symposium on Photography Studies in Asia, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 05 April 2024 - 06 April 2024
    Conference Presentations | 2024
    Chen S, 2024, 'Telling Chinese Australian Histories through Art Objects and Practices', presented at Northern Gateways: Chinese Heritage and History in Northern Australia, the 9th Chinese Heritage in Northern Australia Incorporated Conference, Chung Wah Society¡¯s NT Chinese Museum, Darwin, 20 September 2024 - 23 September 2024
    Curatorial Outputs | 2024
    Chen S, 2024, The trace is not a presence ..., exhibited at: , 23 August 2024 - 14 September 2025,
    Curatorial Outputs | 2023
    Chen S; Kim M-J, 2023, Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature, exhibited at: Chau Chak Wing Museum, The University of Sydney, 07 April 2023 - 04 August 2024,
    Conference Presentations | 2023
    Chen S, 2023, 'Aestheticising the Great Northern Wilderness: Printmaking of the Heilongjiang Construction Corps in mid-1970s China', presented at Chinese Studies Association of Australia, The University of Sydney, 07 December 2023 - 09 December 2023
    Conference Presentations | 2023
    Chen S, 2023, 'Hedda Morrison's Photographs and Exhibition Design', presented at University Museums and Collections, International Council of Museums, Chau Chak Wing Museum, the University of Sydney, 29 August 2023 - 01 September 2023
    Curatorial Outputs | 2022
    Chen S, 2022, Sentient Paper, exhibited at: China Gallery, Chau Chak Wing Museum, the University of Sydney, 11 June 2022 -
    Creative Written Works | 2021
    Chen S; Krischer O, 2021, Wayfaring: Photography in 1970s-80s Taiwan, Chen S; Krischer O, (ed.), chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ciw.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/2024-03/Wayfaring_A5_Web_0.pdf
    Curatorial Outputs | 2021
    Chen S; Krischer O, 2021, Wayfaring: Photography in 1970s-80s Taiwan, exhibited at: Canberra, 30 July 2021 - 28 November 2021,
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2021
    Chen S; Suwannakudt P, 2021, (un)spoken, The First Trans-Southeast Asia Triennial, Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, 08 March 2021 - 10 May 2021, medium: performance, video installation, at: http://www.gzarts.edu.cn/info/1085/29886.htm
    Creative Written Works | 2021
    Chen S, 2021, Auspicious: Motifs in Chinese Art, TAASA Review, TAASA Review
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Chen S, 2021, 'Picturing a Psychic World of 1980s Taiwan', presented at Remembering Taiwan¡¯s Martial Law Conference
    Conference Presentations | 2020
    Chen S, 2020, 'Within and Without: Di Yuancang and Introduction of Western Photography to Socialist China, 1949-1979', presented at College Art Association, Chicago
    Curatorial Outputs | 2020
    Chen S, 2020, Auspicious: Motifs in Chinese Art, exhibited at: Chau Chak Wing Museum, the University of Sydney, - ,
    Conference Presentations | 2019
    Chen S, 2019, 'The Aura of Reproduction: When Photography Met Photocopier in 1980s China', presented at College Art Association, New York
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Chen S, 2018, 'The Birth of a Liupai: the Fission Group, 1986-1988', presented at AAANZ, Melbourne
    Curatorial Outputs | 2018
    Chen S, 2018, A Home for Photography Learning: the Friday Salon, exhibited at: Taikang Space, Beijing, - ,
    Conference Presentations | 2017
    Chen S, 2017, 'Learning from Home: the Friday Salon, 1977-1980', presented at Centre for Chinese Visual Art 10th Annual Conference, Birmingham City University, UK
    Conference Presentations | 2014
    Chen S, 2014, 'Photographic Encounters: Photographs of Lois Conner and Her Journeys to the Reforming China', presented at AAANZ, Launceston
    Conference Presentations | 2014
    Chen S, 2014, 'The Human Self and Breaking from ¡°the Mass¡±: April Photo Society 1979-1981', presented at American Comparative Literature Association Annual Conference, New York
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2012
    Chen S, 2012, Dreamscape, Make Yourself at Home: Emerging Chinese-Australian Artists, ChinaLink Gallery, Sydney, - , medium: mixed media installation, recorded cassettes
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2012
    Chen S, 2012, Egg Friends, Made in China, Australia, Salamanca Arts Centre (Hobart), Burnie Regional Gallery (TAS) 1 February ¨C 1 March 2013 McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park (VIC) 17 March ¨C 9 June 2013 Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery (NSW) 21 June ¨C 28 July 2013 Adelaide Festival Centre (SA) 6 August ¨C 22 October 2013 Ararat Regional Art Gallery (VIC) 27 March ¨C 18 May 2014 Kickarts Contemporary Arts, Cairns (QLD) 2 June ¨C 5 July 2014 Artspace Mackay (QLD) 5 September ¨C 18 October 2014 Grafton Regional Gallery (NSW) 10 December 2014 ¨C 1 February 2015 Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (TAS) 21 February ¨C 3 May 2015, - , at: https://www.salarts.org.au/event/made-in-china-australia/
    Curatorial Outputs | 2012
    Chen S, 2012, Make Yourself at Home: Emerging Chinese-Australian Artists, exhibited at: ChinaLink Gallery, Sydney, -
    Curatorial Outputs | 2012
    Chen S, 2012, Shen Jiawei: Brothers and Sisters, exhibited at: Seymour Centre, the University of Sydney, -
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2012
    Chen S, 2012, Untitled, Comings and Goings: Chinese-Australian Artists, ChinaLink Gallery, Sydney, - , medium: mixed media installation and performance

?

  • 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

Current research projects include:

  • The "Grey Zone": Self-Organised Photography Groups in Beijing, 1977-1988
  • Beyond Being Chinese: Representation of Chinese Australians in Community Museums
  • Amateur Photographic Practice and its Cultural Networks in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 1970s-1990s

My Research Supervision

Jiawen Li, PhD project "Critical Asian and Race Studies in Australia: Contemporary Chinese Curating Down Under"

My Teaching

SAHT9131 Museum and Visual Cultures in the Asia-Pacific

SAHT9117 Contemporary Curating

ADAD 9312 Leadership in the Cultural and Creative Industries

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