Vol. 33, no. 1
The Silk Road was a network of trade routes that extended from Asia to
the Mediterranean Sea, linking powerful civilizations such as Rome and
China from about 200 B.C. to A.D. 1500. More recently, it has taken on
added significance, serving as a powerful metaphor for a wide range of
cultural connections and borrowings, past and present. Part of a
citywide collaboration known as Silk Road Chicago, this special issue
of Museum Studies highlights objects from the Art Institute’s permanent
collection that reflect, through their design, materials, and uses, an
intense exchange between cultures.
Inside, an essay by Milo C. Beach introduces readers to the historical
Silk Road, exploring the ways in which it fostered a two-way flow of
goods, styles, and ideas between East and West. Also included is a
conversation between Art Institute president and director James Cuno,
and renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who discuss the Silk Road as a metaphor
for the circulation of ideas, motifs, and techniques both visual and
musical. An extended catalogue section features lively entries on over
forty intriguing objects ranging from ancient Chinese tomb figures to
the creations of contemporary artists such as Lalla Essaydi,
illuminating their hybrid origins and meanings in new, sometimes
unexpected ways.
Art Institute of Chicago, 2007
8 3/8 x 10 1/4 in.; 96 pages;
70 color illustrations
Softcover $16.95 ISBN: 978-0-300-12428-6
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