China in Britain : The representation of twentieth-century Chinese art and culture in contemporary British museums

This article explores how twentieth century Chinese art and design, produced under the Communist regime, has been interpreted and displayed in contemporary museums. Museums act as both image-makers, and reflect the preconceptions and experiences of wider society. This article aims to establish a correlation between images of China in popular culture and the contemporary presentation of Chinese art and culture in museums. To these ends, the article will examine the interpretative approaches utilised by the Victoria and Albert Museum, chosen for the size, scope and international importance of its Chinese collections and the stated aims of its curatorial team to challenge existing perceptions of China. [Introduction]