No. 2 (41) (2026): Art and architecture of the East Asian region: from morphology of styles to symbolism of images
Art and architecture of the East Asian region: from morphology of styles to symbolism of images

Issue No. 2 (41) of “The Art of Eurasia” journal is dedicated to the art of East Asia, offering a multifaceted perspective on the interplay between form and meaning. It examines classical examples of Far Eastern art, ranging from an analysis of the role of feitian celestial beings in organising the visual space of the Tang dynasty Mogao Caves — demonstrating their evolution from a connective element into a localized focus — to a study of the architectural and spatial organisation of the Mongolian Amarbayasgalant Monastery, which reveals a unique synthesis of Mongolian, Tibetan, and Chinese traditions. Attention is also directed towards the Buddha statues of the Yungang Grottoes, identifying a synthesis of Xianbei, Indian, and Chinese traditions. Heritage preservation challenges are highlighted through the case study of the Shu Guoan house restoration in the Huizhou region, providing a detailed examination of methods used to adapt historic timber-and-stone architecture to contemporary conditions. The ideological dimension of North Korean art is explored through the oeuvre of the chosonhwa master Chong Yongman, one of the most influential figures in late twentieth-century North Korean painting. The technological factor as a stylistic foundation is addressed in an article on Tang dynasty metalware, which demonstrates that forging and embossing techniques fundamentally determined the evolution of form and decoration. Questions surrounding the development of an artist's individual style are examined through an analysis of Ike Taiga’s early landscape style, which synthesised Japanese, Chinese, and European influences, alongside a study of Chu Suiliang’s calligraphy, tracing its evolution from the imitation of Ouyang Xun to an independent, fluid manner. Finally, the work of contemporary Russian artists T. Badanina and V. Nasedkin, showcased at Japanese art festivals, demonstrates a profound ethical and philosophical resonance with Japanese tradition, rooted not in superficial imitation but in an intrinsic affinity of principles.

The issue also features research spanning a broad spectrum of art-historical problems. It examines the distinctive characteristics of the Vetka iconography of “Archangel Michael the Voivode”, the creative heritage of the Tuvan carver Dongak Okaanchyk, and the history behind the establishment of the Polygraphic Arts Section of the RAKhN (Russian Academy of Artistic Sciences). Several articles focus on Soviet art, analysing the Leningrad school of lithography through the prism of the 1961 London exhibition, alongside the mechanisms that transformed artistic activity in 1933 based on archival materials from Leningrad and Irkutsk. The issue further includes papers on Western art, exploring mythical geography in the actionism of Joseph Beuys, and contemporary Russian painting, addressing the conceptualisation of “Russianness” in the work of Grigory Gukasov. Finally, theoretical reflections delve into prehistoric art within the context of Mikhail Lifshitz's and György Lukács's ideas, the evolution of the terms “caricature” and “portrait caricature” in the encyclopaedic tradition, and the nature of creativity regarding mass culture products generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

Full Issue
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Forum

Ksenia G. Badanina
Interpretation of Japanese tradition in the contemporary art practices of Tatiana Badanina and Vladimir Nasedkin
68–83
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Xudong Bai
Feitian as an element of the upper register in Mogao Caves 220 and 103: On the visual order of Tang cave ensembles
84–91
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Daichingiyn Borgel, Dorjsurengiin Uranchimeg
Monastery of Amarbayasghalant: Principles of architectural-spatial organization and stylistic features
92–103
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Xian Wang, Maria V. Voronova
Restoration of architectural buildings in the Huizhou area: the practice of restoring the Shu Guoan House
104–123
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Ekaterina A. Vostrikova
Ideology and creativity: The artistic trajectory of Chŏng Yŏngman within the DPRK visual culture in the second half of the 20th century
124–143
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Yusin Li, Dorjsurengiin Uranchimeg
Decorative and applied art of the Tang Empire (on the example of metallic tableware): techniques of manufacturing, style, ornamental decoration
144–157
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Irina G. Malkova, Olga V. Lysenko
Mountains and trees in the “Album of Taiga’s Drawings” from the collection of the Sakhalin Art Museum
158–173
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Jia Hou, Dorjsurengiin Uranchimeg
The calligraphic art of Chu Suiliang: issues of genesis and features of artistic style
174–187
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Sarangerel Tsolmon
Buddhist sculptures in the Tan Yao Five Caves: iconographic typology and artistic significance
188–199
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Dictionary of Buddhist Iconography by Lokesh Chandra

Lokesh Chandra; Sophia M. Belokurova
Diṅnāga (Dignāga)
322–329
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