ANNE-MARIE JACKSON, 2011, BOWL WITH IRON BASED GLAZE, STONEWARE, (H) 9CM, (D) 12.5CM. PHOTO: ANNE-MARIE JACKSON – TAASA Review December 2011

But what are the particular reasons that students in Australia choose to study Asian art? What are some of the obstacles and challenges of undertaking that study? What impact does undertaking those studies have? Being both a student of Asian art (studying for a PhD) and recently beginning to teach in the area at the National Art School, Sydney, these questions are close to my heart, personally and professionally.

To reflect on these issues, I spoke to some of my fellow PhD students in Asian art at the University of Sydney as well as some of the students who have taken my courses at the National Art School, many of whom also study aspects of Asian art as part of their studio practice. For many of the students, the initial motivation to learn more about Asian art came from having a personal or emotional response to the art objects.

Tim Corne, now a painting student at the National Art School, recalled his first visits to the AGNSW, where he was drawn to the Asian art section: "I found it really peaceful, serene and refined...