Colonialism in Asia began in Southeast Asia and spread north and west through the centuries.
Colonialism - a phenomenon in which one culture expands to engulf another - is an ancient practice that has dated back to the15th century. In 1493, Spain and Portugal claimed rights to the Western Hemisphere and Western Africa. The English and French then followed, vying for other territories and started colonizing globally. Colonialism in Asia began around 1500, starting with Southeast Asia and spread through the area, with its height during the19th century.
Indian Art
During the British colonization of India, modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, traditional styles and crafts were eschewed in favor of reproducing Western art. The English formalized art education and replaced the tradition of apprenticeship in the country. Formal art academies were established in major Indian cities where the local youth - usually the children the craftsmen - were taught Western arts, often in favor of traditional local crafts.
Southeast Asia
Similarly, the Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia that were colonized by the French, mainly produced art that imitated that of the colonizers during the19th and early 20th centuries. After gaining independence in the mid-20th century, however, Southeast Asia saw a revival of native and traditional crafts. Western art remained very unpopular in the region until the '80s and '90s, when local artists began to look to modernism and postmodernism for inspiration. Contemporary art in Southeast Asia often blends modernism with traditional styles, often expressing local and personal issues using international styles.
Korea
Unlike much of Asia, Korean colonizers were more proximate. The Japanese occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945, which at times was brutal on local culture. Much of traditional culture that included pottery, ceramics and other handicrafts was seen as an impediment toward the modernization demanded by the Japanese. After the occupation a number of institutions were established to promote indigenous art using woodwork and mother of pearl, but the proliferation of artists employing such skills were very limited. Contemporary Korean artists often work in modern traditions of the West and Japan.
China
While Western countries vied for Chinese territories, actual colonization was limited to British influence in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Subsequently the Chinese, while influenced by Western art through missionaries and tradespeople, local crafts were never forcefully replaced by colonizing forces. Traditional arts and crafts like jade carving, carved lacquerware, among others, have flourished through the centuries.
