Conference: The Asia dreamed of in Enlightenment-era Paris
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Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur |
The Asia Dreamed of in Enlightenment-era Paris
A Conference by Elodie Kong
Join us on Wednesday, 29 July for a fascinating journey into 18th-century France with art historian Elodie Kong. Discover how Asian art and objects inspired the rise of Chinoiserie, a uniquely French decorative style that reflected Europe's fascination with an imagined Asia.
Conducted in English.
In the 18th century, the Parisian elite filled their interiors with Asian treasures such as porcelain, lacquerware, and folding
screens—symbols of luxury and curiosity about the world. Reimagined through the Rococo style, these objects inspired the rise of Chinoiserie,
a decorative movement blending Asian influences with French creativity. Although most artists had never visited Asia, they created an
imagined East shaped by objects, stories, and engravings, revealing more about the dreams and ideals of Enlightenment Europe than the
reality of Asian cultures.
About the Speaker
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Elodie Kong holds a Ph.D. in Art History and is a lecturer at several higher education institutions
in Lyon, France.
A former art market professional, she specialises in the collecting practices of Parisian financiers during the second half of the 18th century.
As a Frenchwoman of Malaysian origin, she is passionate about strengthening cultural and artistic ties between France and Malaysia by sharing her expertise in French art history.
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