Unseen Voices: Exam‐Oriented Art Education in China and Its Impact on Artistic Subjectivity

Abstract This study examines an exam‐oriented art education in China, highlighting how art‐training centres enforce standardised evaluation criteria and prioritise technical mastery over creative freedom. I draw from personal experience to analyse how such systems shape art examinees' artistic development and marginalise their voices, providing a missing insider perspective through autoethnography. Guided by Foucault's power theory, this research critiques the dominance of standardised assessments in art education and rethinks the rationalisation of operating exams through the lens of artistic subjectivity. At the same time, this research advocates culturally sensitive and inclusive curricula that support students transitioning from exam‐oriented systems into global educational contexts.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Art & Design Education
Published
2026-06-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.70032
Primary Topic
Art Education and Development
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Unseen Voices: Exam‐Oriented Art Education in China and Its Impact on Artistic Subjectivity

Jiayi Guo
International Journal of Art & Design Education
Art Education and Development
article

Unseen Voices: Exam‐Oriented Art Education in China and Its Impact on Artistic Subjectivity

Jiayi Guo
article en

Abstract

Abstract This study examines an exam‐oriented art education in China, highlighting how art‐training centres enforce standardised evaluation criteria and prioritise technical mastery over creative freedom. I draw from personal experience to analyse how such systems shape art examinees' artistic development and marginalise their voices, providing a missing insider perspective through autoethnography. Guided by Foucault's power theory, this research critiques the dominance of standardised assessments in art education and rethinks the rationalisation of operating exams through the lens of artistic subjectivity. At the same time, this research advocates culturally sensitive and inclusive curricula that support students transitioning from exam‐oriented systems into global educational contexts.

International Journal of Art & Design Education
University of Georgia (US)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Art Education and Development
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