The Orient needs educated, knowledgeable art critics

I drafted this article a few years ago when I was in Taipei. I have condensed it to save space.

Basically, if we are serious about promoting art education, more educated and knowledgeable art critics are what we badly need. Take New York City as an example. Aside from the several dozen leading theaters, there are numerous art centers such as The Metropolitan Opera House, music halls at the Lincoln Center, a dozen or so museums and over 500 art galleries of various sizes. People can read and listen to many different art critics everyday from the newspapers, magazines and on television.

There are easily more than 100 art critics in New York City alone. Most of them are well educated in the various forms of art they review (many have master's or doctoral degrees in art history, art education or esthetics). Art departments in most universities are just as important as science, mathematics, economics, engineering and literature departments. All their art critics are well-qualified both in theories and experience to evaluate each art form according to their own field. Thus, in the Western world, there are many true art lovers -- resulting from the art education provided by different art critics. As a result, there are far fewer art illiterates as in the eastern world.

Now let us look at the Orient. Literary critics we do have, such as Wang Kuo-Wei, Liang Qi-Chao, Hu Shi and many others. But art critics are very, very few. Usually, when an artist holds an art show, he or she has to first visit reporters from the important newspapers or magazines, then invite them to meals. What they write after the show is usually about the artist's life or some praise like "excels one's teacher" or "almost as good as some old master's work" -- all flattery, but no substance. Reporters almost never comment or criticize the artist's works based on the aesthetic theories and techniques so as to teach the public. (see illustration)

It is important to realize that the duty of an art critic is not simply to serve the artist, but to evaluate his works (whether by praising or criticizing) in every way in order to enlighten and educate the public about art. For example, how to make the public aware and understand what art is. What a good painting is supposed to be. What is Ya (elegance) and what is Su (vulgarity). Above all, the difference between fine art and commercial art. In other words, a true art critic is indeed the public's art teacher. All art critics in the West are often equipped with academic degrees just for this reason. They constantly teach the public the distance between the realm of beauty and real life and the difference between beauty and pleasure, together with the knowledge of art history.

How can we realize the beautification of our life? I sincerely urge the government in Southeast Asia to encourage students to go abroad (any big cities either in the U.S. or Europe) to study art history, esthetics and art education. After they have earned their master's degree or Ph.D. in art, they will be much better equipped to be art teachers or critics to educate our public.

-- Kwo Da-Wei