CURRICULUM VITAE
YUHANG LI
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. The Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, The University of Chicago,
2011.
M.A. The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, The University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, 2001.
B.A. The Department of Art History, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China, 1991.
ACADEMIC POSITIONS:
August 2013-Present / Assistant Professor, The Department of Art History, The University of
Wisconsin at Madison.
2012-2013
2011-2012
Spring, 2007 / Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, The Department of Art, Grinnell College.
Postdoctoral Associate, Council on East Asian Studies, Yale University.
Lecturer, The Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago.
Fall, 2005 Teaching Assistant, The Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations,
University of Chicago.
Summer, 2003Fall, 2002-Spring, 2003 / Independent Research Scholar of Chinese Textiles at the Field Museum of
Natural History.
Translator for the exhibition “Splendors of China’s Forbidden City: the Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong,” Exhibition Department, Field Museum of Natural History
2001-2002 / Collection Management Assistant, The Department of Anthropology, The Field Museum of Natural History.
Summer, 2001
1999-2001 / Intern, Boone collection of Japanese art, The Department of Anthropology, The Field Museum of Natural History.
Research Assistant, Department of Art History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1991-1996 / Assistant Curator, Beijing Art Museum, Beijing, China.
OTHER SCHOLARLY POSITION:
2015-present Board of Directors: Society for Ming Studies
HONORS, GRANTS AND AWARDS
Fall, 2017 Resident Fellow, Institute for Research in Humanities, UW-Madison
2017 Summer Research Funding from the Graduate School at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. ($11,847)
2016-2020 Collaborative Training Grant, Graduate School, University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
2015-2016 / Research Associate at the Women’s Studies in Religion Program, Divinity School, Harvard University. ($61,000)2015-2016 / Getty Residential Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Getty Center, (declined).
2015 / Summer Research Funding from the Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ($24,005)
2010 / Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation/AAS travel grant for research in Taiwan and
America. ($2000)
2009-2010 / Mellon Dissertation Write-up Fellowship, Humanities Division, The University of Chicago. ($18,000)
2008-2009 / Dissertation fellowship, Center for East Asian Studies, The University of Chicago. ($15,000)
2008 / Travel Grant for Research in China, The Center for East Asian Studies travel, The University of Chicago. ($3000)
2003-2007 / Mellon Graduate Achievement Fellowship, The University of Chicago.
2002-2003 / Century Scholarship, The University of Chicago.
1999-2001 Scholarship, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
PUBLICATIONS
Scholarly Catalogue:
Co-edit with Judith Zeitlin, Performing Images: Opera in Chinese Visual Culture.
Chicago: Smart Museum of Art and the University of Chicago Press, 2014.
Mingqing foxiang [Buddhist Sculptures of the Ming and Qing Dynasties]. Taipei:
Yishu tushu gongsi, 1997.
Chapters in Books:
“Muofang Guanyin fazan: mingdai nüxing wangsheng de wuzhi meijie ”摹仿觀音髮簪:明代女性往生的物質媒介”(Mimicking Guanyin’s Hairpin: the Material Mediums for Women’s Transcendence), in Gao Yanyi (Dorothy Ko), Lai Yu-chi and Ruan Yuan (Aida Yue Wong) eds., Kanjian xingbie (看見性別 Seeing Gender ). Taipei: Shitou chubanshe, 2017 (forthcoming).
“Representing Theatricality on Textile,” in Performing Images: Opera in Chinese Visual
Culture. Chicago: Smart Museum of Art and the University of Chicago Press, 2014, 74-87.
“Sensory Devotions: Hair Embroidery and Gendered Corporeal Practice in Chinese
Buddhism,” in Sally M. Promey ed. Sensational Religion: Sensory Cultures in Material Practice. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2014, 355-375.
Articles in Refereed Journals:
“Rethinking Empress Dowager Cixi through the Production of Art,” co-authored with
Harriet T. Zurndorfer Nannü: Men, Women, and Gender in China, Vol.14 (2012), issue 1, 1-20.
“Oneself as a Female Deity: Representations of Cixi Posing as Guanyin,” Nannü: Men, Women, and Gender in China, Vol.14 (2012), issue 1, 75-118.
“Communicating with Guanyin through Hair: Hair Embroidery in Late Imperial
China.” Journal of East Asian Science, Technology and Medicine, 36 (2012): 131-166.
Edited Project:
Nannü: Men, Women, and Gender in China: Special Issue on Rethinking Empress Dowager Cixi
through the Production of Art. Co-editor with Harriet Zurndorfer. Vol.14, issue 1, 2012.
Catalog Entries:
Performing Images: Opera in Chinese Visual Culture. Chicago: Smart Museum of Art and the University of Chicago Press, 2014, 144-147, 157-159, 191-193.
Translation:
Cai Jiudi [Judith Zeitlin], “Chongshen yu fenshen: mingmo xiqu zhong de ‘hundan’”[Doubling and Splitting the Phantom Heroine in Early Seventeenth-Century Drama], in Hua Wei ed., Tang Xianzu and Mudanting, Taibei: Zhongyang yanjiu yuan zhongguo wenzhe yanjiusuo, 2005, 511-536.
Works in Progress:
Book Manuscript:
Becoming Guanyin: Women’s Artistic Devotion in Late Imperial China, submitted to the editor of the special series “gender and material practice in East Asia,” Columbia University Press.
Articles:
“Fragrant Orchid as Feminine Body: Ma Shouzhen’s Orchid Painting and the Emergence of Courtesan Painters in Early Modern China.” (submitted for publication)
“Picturing Empress Dowager Cixi as Guanyin for Christian Eyes,” preparing a publican for Orientations
PAPERS PRESENTED IN CONFERENCE AND INVITED TALKS
“Reproducing a Bodhisattva: Women's Artistic Devotion in Late Imperial China,” Institute of Research in Humanities, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sept. 25, 2017.
“A Chapter of Heavenly Being Huiyue” and the Politic of Embodying Guanyin in the Late Ming Dynasty,”Gorge Washington University, Workshop “Text, Gender and Religions,” Feb.4-5, 2017.
“Transformation of Transcendence: Mimicking Guanyin through Hairpins,” presented in the conference China, Art, History: New Orientations, University of Chicago, Nov.3-5, 2016.
“Mimicking Guanyin through Hairpins,” Gent University, Belgium, July 4, 2016.
“Tacit Knowing, Thinking Equipment and Religious Mediation,” Conference “Knowing and Doing: Text and Labor in Asian Handwork,” University of Chicago, May 14-15, 2016.
“Technical Image, Nügong, and Women’s Space in Binfeng guangyi,” Luce /ACLS Collaborative Reading-Workshop on Women at Work: Reconstructing Nügong through Text and Image, Swarthmore College, May 6th-7th, 2016.
“Embodying Guanyin through Hairpins as a Means of Transcendence,” Boston College, April 20, 2016.
“Dancing the Guanyin: The Contradictions of Courtesan’s Religiosity in Late Imperial China,” Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, Chicago, March, 2016.
“Reproducing a Bodhisattva: Women’s Artistic Devotion in Late Imperial China,” Divinity School, Harvard University, October, 2015.
“Mimicking Guanyin through Hairpins as a Means of Transcendence,” Society for Ming Studies special panel, Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, Chicago, March, 2015.
“Embodying Guanyin through Hairpins as a Means of Transcendence,” Conference: Seeing and Touching Gender from Late Imperial to Modern China " Conference, Academia Sinica, December 17-19, 2014.
“Backstage as Spectacle,” Symposium: Chinese Opera in Visual and Material Culture, University of Chicago, April 10-12, 2014.
“Politicking Time through Attire: Empress Dowager Cixi and Her Birthday Vest,” Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, March, 2014.
“Remediated Antiquarianism: A Case Study of Qianlong’s Copy of Li Di’s “Two Chicks,” Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, San Diego, March, 2013.
“Performing Images: Opera in Chinese Visual Culture,” Co-presented with Judith Zeitlin, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, October 5, 2012.
“From Verbal to Pictorial Narrative: The Pearl Pagoda and the Reconstitution of Three Religions in Late Imperial China,” McMaster University, Canada, March 19th, 2012.
“‘Tableau Vivant’ and Antiquarianism in Contemporary Chinese Experimental Art,” Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, Toronto, March 17th, 2012. I am also the organizer of this panel entitled “‘Flesh for Fantasy’: Performing the Chinese Past in the Age of Digital Photography.”
“Mimicking Guanyin through the Lens: Cixi/Guanyin Photographs,” at the symposium “Imperial Exposure: Early Photography and Royal Portraits across Asia,” Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, December 5-6, 2011.
“Communicating Guanyin with Hair: Hair Embroidery in Late Imperial China,” at the Council on East Asian Studies, Yale University, November 30th, 2011.
“Oneself as a Female Deity: Representations of Cixi Posing as Guanyin,” Gender Studies Workshop, Harvard University, Oct.14th, 2011.
“Oneself as a Female Deity: Representations of Cixi Posing as Guanyin,” Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, Honolulu, March, 2011. I was also the organizer of this panel entitled “Rethinking Empress Dowager Cixi from the Production of Art.”
“Photographs of Cixi Dressing up as Guanyin,” at the Midwest Annual Meeting of American Association of Religion, March 2010.
“Hair Embroidery in Late Imperial China,” at the international conference entitled “Embroidery and Storytelling,” Rouen, France. December 2009.
“Communicating with Guanyin through Hair: Hair Embroidery in Late Imperial China,” at 2009 Annual Meeting of Association for Asian Studies, Chicago, IL. I was the organizer of this panel entitled “The Social Life of Boudoir Arts in Late Imperial China,” March, 2009.
“Gendered Materialization: An Investigation of Women’s Artistic and Literary Reproductions of
Guanyin in Late Imperial China,” joint session of the Literature and Cultural History in Early
Modern East Asia and the Visual and Material Perspectives in East Asia workshops, University
of Chicago, May 2007.
“Narrating Morality on Textiles: A Case Study of a Chinese Taoist Robe,” Textile Society of America Annual Conference, Toronto, ON. October 2006.
“Fragrant Orchid as Feminine Body: An Analysis of Ma Xianglan’s Orchid Painting and Poetry,” Visual and Material Perspectives on East Asian workshop, University of Chicago, 2006.
“Twofold Agency—Female Purity and Religion in Artistic Practice in Pre-Modern China” at the “Second Annual Graduate Symposium on Women’s and Gender History,” University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. March 2001.
EXHIBITIONS
“Tradition and Innovation: Human Figure in Contemporary Chinese Art,” guide students to write labels, organize a symposium and various events for the exhibition. Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin at Madison, 2015.
“Performing Images: Opera in Chinese Visual Culture,” co-curator of the exhibition with Judith Zeitlin, Smart Museum, University of Chicago, 2014.
“Chinese Textile Collection at the Field Museum,” online exhibition, the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 2003.
Boone Collection of Japanese Art, online exhibition, the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, 2001.
“Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition,” Beijing Art Museum, Beijing, China, 1996.
“The Quintessential Culture Artifacts of Beijing--To Commemorate the 3040th Anniversary of Beijing Exhibition,” Beijing Art Museum, 1995.
“Late-imperial Buddhist Sculptures Exhibition,” Beijing Art Museum,1995.
“Late-imperial Chinese Paintings Exhibition,” Beijing Art Museum, 1994.
“Late-imperial Chinese Crafts Exhibition,” Beijing Art Museum, 1993.
“Japanese Art Collection from the Beijing Museum Exhibition,” Beijing Art Museum, 1992.
“Furniture from the Ming and Qing Dynasties,” Beijing Art Museum, 1991.
TEACHING
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2013-present
Courses Taught
Spring, 2017
AH 308 Later Chinese Art: from 10th Century to Contemporary
AH411 Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art
AH 766 Topics in Chinese Art History
AH 699 Directed Reading
Fall, 2016
AH 307 Early Chinese Art: from Antiquity to 10th Century
AH 576/876 Proseminar: Issues of Gender in Chinese Art
AH799 Independent Study
Image Study Section: Collaborative Training Project supported by Graduate School, meet with
students once in two weeks in the fall semester during 2016.
Spring, 2015
AH308 Later Chinese Art: from 10th century to contemporary
AH411 Modern and Contemporary Chinese Art
AH682 Senior Thesis
Fall, 2014
AH 307 Early Chinese Art: from antiquity to 10th century
AH 576/876 Proseminar: Issues of Gender in Chinese Art
AH 681 Senior Thesis
Spring, 2014
AH 308 Later Chinese Art: from 10th century to contemporary
AH411 Opera and Chinese Visual Culture
Fall, 2013
AH 307 Early Chinese Art: from antiquity to 10th century
AH 576 Gender and Material Practice in the Cult of Guanyin
Honors or Senior Theses D Honors HNONOR THESES DIRECTED:
Xiaoqian Gu, Art History Department, Fall 2014 and Spring 2015
MASTER’S EXAMINATION COMMITTEES:
Cynthia Tidler, M.F.A, Art Department, 2014-2015
M.A. AND M.F.A THESES COMMITTEES:
Wenting Ji, MA, Asian Languages and Cultures, Feb, 2017
Kristine Zickuhr, MA, Art History 2015
Qiang Liu, M.F.A. Art Department, May, 2015
Laura Wein, M.A. Asian Languages and Cultures, May, 2015
Aaron Reich, M.A. Art History department, September, 2015
CURRENT ADVISEES:
Undergraduate Honor theses: Alexa Machnik (supported by Hilldale Fellowship)
MA students: Bo Zhan
PhD students: Young Kim, Department of Art History Department
Tong Su, Department of Art History
Aaron Reich, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
Michael Naparstek, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
Ji Wang, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
College Art Association
Association for Asian Studies
Institutional Service
Service to the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Admissions and Financial Aid Committee (2016-2017)
Curatorial Studies committee (2013-17)
Instructional Technology & Space Management committee (2013-15)
Material Culture Program, I participated meetings and presented a lecture on “Chinese material and gender practice in Pre-modern China” for the course “Method and Theory in Material Culture.”
Invited a guest speaker Judith Zeitlin (William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor at the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago) to give a talk entitled “A Ming pipa in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Toward a Reconstruction of its Literary, Historical, and Theatrical Context”on April 18, 2014.
Organized and took students to visit the Art Institute at Chicago and Smart Museum at the University of Chicago. April 5, 2014.
Chazen Museum:
Helped with guiding students to write labels of the art works in the exhibition: Tradition and Innovation: Human Figures in Contemporary Chinese Art
Organizing symposium, inviting speaker Julia Andrews, planning film screening, gallery talk that are related to the exhibition Tradition and Innovation.
Advised on the rotation of Chinese art objects from the permanent collection.
In reviewing the gift offer from Irving Shain (born 1926), I have spent a lot of time to do research on the Shain collection. Irving Shain is the Chancellor of UW-Madison from 1977 to 1986.
Advised Chazen Museum with new acquisition of Chinese art object.
Advised the Chinese objects for the Chazen Museum’s handbook.
Guest lectures:
AH 103 Body, Sex and Health, Spring 2017
“Footbinding: Social Control of Women’s Body, Eroticism and Women’s Material Practice”
AH 205 Global Art, Fall 2016,
“A New Representation of Reality: Jesuits Painters in 18th century China”
East Asian Studies 255
AH 603 — Curatorial Studies Colloquium
Method and Theory in Material Culture
EA 371 Topics in Chinese Literature: Traditional Chinese Drama/LitTrans 373