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Inspired by Dunhuang: Dunhuang’s tradition continues to invigorate artists, teachers and students in their quest for education, self-cultivation and artistic creation. Highlighting paintings and sculptures by a dozen modern and contemporary artists, Inspired by Dunhuang: Re-creation in Contemporary Chinese Art will explore the historical site’s profound influence on generations of artists beginning with master painter Zhang Daqian. Other artists to be featured in the exhibition include contemporary art luminaries such as Zhang Hongtu, Liu Jude, Liu Dan and Yu Hong. Inspired by Dunhuang is organized by China Institute Gallery and co-curated by Willow Hai Chang, Director of China Institute Gallery, and Jerome Silbergeld, the P. Y. and Kinmay W. Tang Professor of Chinese Art History and Director of the Tang Center for East Asian Art at Princeton University. Exhibition Schedule |
Zhang Hongtu (b. 1943) |
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Dreams of the Kings: Peng Cheng (present-day Xuzhou) in Jiangsu province was the birthplace of the first emperor of the influential Han dynasty. When he ascended the throne, the emperor declared Peng Cheng as the Kingdom of Chu, and knighted his peasant brothers as its sovereigns. Bestowed with specially chartered rights that alleviated the kingdom from imperial taxes, the kings of Peng Cheng enjoyed a uniquely luxurious and lavish lifestyle, and there is no place where that lifestyle was better represented than inside the royal tombs, which were often so large that they far exceeded imperial regulations. In Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit and Afterlife Objects from Xuzhou, exquisite jades, animated terracotta figures and other treasures exemplify the affluent and sumptuous lifestyle these rulers had during their lifetime, and is revealing of their beliefs and attitudes towards what was to come after death. At the centerpiece of this exhibition is a sumptuous jade burial suit, constructed with over 4,000 pieces of jade held together with gold thread, a material that was typically reserved for emperors. This exhibition is organized by China Institute Gallery and the Xuzhou Municipal Museum. It is curated by Li Yinde, Director of the Xuzhou Municipal Museum. Exhibition Schedule |
Jade Suit |
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Art in a Time of Chaos: Chinese archaeology in the last twenty years witnessed an unprecedented period in the excavation of Six Dynasties art. Extraordinary works of art have been unearthed, and the ensuing scholarly research has significantly altered the understanding of this chaotic, four-hundred-year period of political upheaval, geographical division and civil strife. Not only is the Six Dynasties a pivotal link in the historical timeline between the Han and Tang dynasties, it has been recognized as the historical period that laid down the foundation for Chinese art. In ceramics, sculpture, painting and calligraphy, artists and artisans of the Six Dynasties spearheaded dynamic and vigorous artistic innovations that became instrumental in the evolution of Chinese art. Art in a Time of Chaos: Innovative Trends in Six Dynasties China will explore these creative individuals and the numerous techniques, theories and iconographies that have had insurmountable impact in the development of Chinese art throughout the ages. On view will be important works of celadon, pottery, stone sculptures, brick carvings, calligraphy and mural paintings meticulously selected from the Nanjing Museum and the Shanxi Museum. This exhibition is co-curated by Willow Weilan Hai Chang, Director of China Institute Gallery; Annette Juliano, Professor of Asian Art History at Rutgers University; Gong Liang, Director of the Nanjing Museum; Bai Ning, Director of the Nanjing Municipal Museum; and Shi Jinming, Director of the Shanxi Museum. The exhibition will be presented in two parts at China Institute Gallery, but the hosting institution may choose to exhibit both parts simultaneously. Exhibition Schedule |
Carved pillar base |
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The Beauty of Chinese Gardens This exhibition showcases 38 black-and-white photographs of classical gardens in the Suzhou and Shanghai regions of China. Taken by David Engel in the 1980s, these photographs capture the unique architectural and aesthetic elements of private gardens in the lower Yangzi region. The serene and beautiful images offer visitors a striking glimpse into how man-made architecture can be ingeniously fused with the natural environment.
We offer to loan this exhibition free of charge. In return, the hosting institution would agree to cover all expenses related to the loan and to publicize and promote China Institute’s programs through their website, emails, and promotional materials.
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David Engel |
(Holland Cotter, The New York Times, September 19, 2003)
