A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie at the MET
The exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) proposes a feminist reinterpretation of the chinoiserie style, examining how European decorative art constructed stereotypes about the East and, in particular, about Asian women.
Chinoiserie is a 17th-century European decorative style that idealized Chinese aesthetics. It was common in porcelain, furniture, and tapestries, reflecting an exotic and often distorted view of the East.
The exhibition highlights how Asian women were portrayed in stereotypical ways, associated with fragility and submissiveness. It also proposes a redefinition of these images, presenting contemporary perspectives that emphasize resistance and women’s empowerment.
Porcelain, often associated with delicacy and sophistication, is also used as a metaphor for women. Historically seen as fragile, porcelain in the exhibition symbolizes both vulnerability and resilience.
The title suggests a fusion between the beautiful and the “monstrous,” in the sense of breaking imposed standards and challenging female stereotypes. The exhibition explores how art can deconstruct idealized views and create new narratives.
With more than 200 works, Monstrous Beauty includes both historical pieces and contemporary artists’ works. This interaction shows how chinoiserie influenced the construction of stereotypes and how contemporary art can redefine them.
Contemporary artists use chinoiserie as a tool for social critique, addressing issues such as cultural identity and the exoticization of Asian women. Their works challenge past representations and propose new ways of seeing and understanding this style.
The exhibition features artists such as Yumi Janairo Roth and Suki Seokyeong Kang, who explore themes of femininity, identity, and cultural appropriation in their works.
Monstrous Beauty invites the audience to reflect on how art shapes cultural perceptions and on the role of women in constructing these narratives, fostering a more critical and inclusive perspective on art history.
