Paint by Numbers

Chinese art’s journey from mass-produced propaganda in the Mao era to market darling mirrors China’s own momentous changes like few other disciplines. Today, in both contemporary art and contemporary Chinese society, commerce and politics coexist in a delicate balance, which some call sensible and others, selling out. By travelling to the studios of China’s art world superstars, hearing their rags-to-riches tales and interviewing the critics, curators and collectors that have been around since its idealistic beginnings, author Claire van den Heever paints a picture of Chinese art’s bumpy path to commercial and critical success, and uncovers the secrets it tried to keep along the way.