New Lecturer appointed in Iranian Islamic Art

Yusen Yu’s research and teaching focus on the arts of Iran and Islam from a transregional perspective. He is finalizing the manuscript of his first book, entitled Chinese Scrolls and the Persianate Audience in the Long Fifteenth Century, which examines the ways in which the scrolls were viewed, understood, and used in Iran and Central Asia during 1350s and 1550s. Continuing this line of inquiry, his current project explores the contemporary and later receptions of European prints, printed books, and printing technologies in the Islamic world.

He also works broadly on medieval aesthetics, technology and craftsmanship, as well as related institutions – such as guild, workshop, and court employment in the Islamic world. With a focus on Iran and Central Asia, his other research concerns the interrelationship between ecologies (animal, vegetable, and mineral) and aesthetic practices, aligning with his interest in the history of agriculture and mining.

He studied History, Persian Studies, and Islamic Art and Architecture in China, Iran, and the UK, and completed his PhD at Heidelberg University, Germany. Prior to joining St Andrews, he was the inaugural Junior Research Fellow in Comparative Aesthetics and Art History at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and maintains an interest in comparative studies and cultural history in general.