Australian artists drawn by Chinese artistic orbital pull(3)

RECORD DOLLARS, RECORD INTEREST

Certainly Australia is transfixed by what is more than just a passing love affair with Asia, and, in particular, Chinese art.

In June this year, Sydney's Shapiro Auctions saw a Chinese ' huanghuali' table snapped up for 66,000 U.S. dollars. They very next day Melbourne's Mossgreen followed up by selling a pair of hardwood chairs, probably of zitan wood for an eye-watering 146, 400 U.S. dollars -- an Australian record for Chinese furniture, according to Mossgreen.

Again in June, after a bidding war, an Asian buyer paid the same figure, 146,400 U.S. dollars, at Bonhams' Asian art sale in Sydney's luck Paddington for a Chinese blue and white porcelain dragon box, also thought to be a record for this type of porcelain.

UNVEILING CHINA ARTS OBSESSION

The FASIC conference is certainly the most ambitious of its kind to address and stimulate discussion in a field that has become increasingly important to both Australia and China, but which may not have received the kind of attention it deserves within the broader Australian Studies community in China, Walker says.

The program will also feature a special performance by acclaimed Australian photographer and storytelling artist William Yang.

Professor Walker says leaders from all walks of life will share their insights over two days of panel discussions, keynote presentations, interviews and special performances and exhibitions, running on Thursday and Friday at Renmin University.

Additional public talks will also run on Saturday at the Red Gate Gallery and Capital M Restaurant in Beijing.