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French and British Bulls in the China Shop: The Pillage, Plunder, and Profit of destroying the Qing Dynasty’s Summer Palaces
Normally harbouring a ripe distrust of one another, every once in a while the French and English can put aside all their lengthy historical squabbling to come together to be extreme jerks. There is nothing quite like bonding over a smash and grab job of cultural destruction, it breathes life into nations like the smell of napalm in the morning. And so it was in 1860 that the two nations found a common enemy in China and the Qing Dynasty’s Summer palaces and were united in a cry of: “Burn, motherf*****, burn”! As fun as opium surely can be (we don’t condone the use, but considering the Trainspotting description and…
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Art for One Billion People and More
There is no doubt that today China is one of the big global players. A country whose history reaches back more than 4,000 years and which today has the world’s biggest population impresses in every possible way. But besides the ongoing news about the economic strength of the long-awakened dragon it is Chinese culture especially that is fascinating the rest of the world. In this regard it is not only the country’s long history, its traditions and achievements of an era long ago – everyone has heard about the many myths and legends which entwine the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, symbols for the grandeur of imperial China. But…
This is an interactive art blog in multi languages, you will find new articles on artists, art history, exhibitions, etc. Contributions welcome.
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