Seaver College Professor Yoonah Hwang Invited to Present at British Library
Seaver College art history professor Yoonah Hwang will speak at the British Library’s “Silk Road Oasis Symposium,” which will bring together a cohort of world-renowned scholars in late February 2025 to offer new insights on the rich history of Dunhuang—a cultural center of the Silk Road. Hwang’s talk at the symposium will focus on the banner paintings discovered in Dunhuang’s famed Mogao Caves and how the visual depictions, materials used, and location of the discovery suggests a more diverse and accessible art tradition in ancient China.
“It is such an honor to present on the Dunhuang banner paintings as a scholar at the British Library,” says Hwang. “My talk will serve as a general introduction to the banner paintings of the ninth and tenth centuries. I’ll discuss the types, occasions, and peoples who created these important art pieces.”
Discovered in 1900, Dunhuang’s Library Cave once housed thousands of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and works of art—such as the banner paintings Hwang specializes in. The site, as legend has it, were originally constructed by a single monk some 2,000 years ago. Over time, other monks joined him, and the Mogao Caves they went on to develop became a major destination along the Silk Road.
Hwang’s research on the visual art emerging from the Library Cave offers a new way to study this unique cultural moment of ancient China. While plenty of scholarship has been published regarding the written manuscripts in the cave, Hwang was one of the first scholars to begin analyzing the art pieces. Her work, which began during her doctoral studies at the University of Southern California, reveals that art was not merely a form of expression for the rich but also the common, religious classes as well.
“I was drawn to this material because it shows a variety of people,” says Hwang. “When you study art history, it is evident that the major works stem from powerful people who have money, access to a labor force, and access to material. There is a sense of grandeur. However, the paintings in the Library Cave aren’t as beautiful as those that appear in palaces. Instead, they present a humble depiction of faith.”
The British Library, located in London, houses the original manuscripts and artifacts found in Dunhuang’s Library Cave. The invitation to present her research at the “Silk Road Oasis Symposium,” exemplifies Hwang’s position as one of the leading scholars of this time period. It also gives the Seaver College professor direct access to banner paintings she studies, as well as an opportunity to meet other internationally renowned scholars.
Going forward Hwang is expanding her research focus and will begin studying textiles. She is hopeful that this endeavor will yield findings related to the sustainability practices used by ancient Chinese artists in their artmaking process.
“Doing this type of research is like trying to complete a thousand-piece puzzle,” Hwang explains. “I love the feeling of having that last piece. Finding that final piece is the motivation that makes me keep going.”