Centerpiece Exhibition is Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art From The National Palace Museum, Taipei Featuring Rare Imperial Masterpieces, Including Celebrated “Meat-shaped Stone,” Make Their U.S. Debut at the Asian Art Museum-Chong-Moon Lee center for Asian Art and Culture, San Francisco.
The Asian Art Museum–Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture, San Francisco (200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102) announced that it will mount an unprecedented exhibition of imperial Chinese masterworks from The National Palace Museum, Taipei—marking the first time that many of these historical treasures, including the iconic jasper stone carved into the shape of a pork belly, will be exhibited in North America. Opening on June 17, 2016, Emperor’s Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei is the flagship exhibition of the Museum’s 50th anniversary year, which launches in 2016 with a robust series of exhibitions and programs that will advance the Museum’s mission of cross-cultural education and exchange.
On Feb. 26, the museum will open Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts, an exhibition of 74 striking artworks from the Islamic world, which tells the stories of a writer in 16th-century Mughal India, a painter in 17th-century Safavid Iran and a patron in 18th-century Ottoman Turkey.
The museum’s second spring exhibition is China at the Center: Rare Ricci and Verbiest World Maps. The exhibition will showcases two rare and monumental 17th-century maps, including A Complete Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the World, created by Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci and his Chinese colleagues at the Ming court in 1602.
In celebration of the museum’s 50th anniversary, the museum exhibit 50 artworks that together reveal the unique physical and symbolic aspects of gold in Hidden Gold: Mining Its Meaning in Asian Art.
Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh, and Other Western Artists
Through Feb. 7, 2016
Japan’s opening to international trade in the 1850s after centuries of self-imposed isolation set off a craze for all things Japanese among European and North American collectors, artists and designers. The phenomenon, dubbed japonisme by French writers, radically altered the course of Western art in the modern era. The Asian Art Museum delves into this sweeping development in the traveling exhibition Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh, and Other Western Artists. The exhibition features more than 170 works of paintings, prints, furniture and decorative arts drawn from the acclaimed collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. It traces the West’s growing interest in Japan, the collecting of Japanese objects, and the exploration of Japanese subject matter and styles. The works shown represent most of the major artistic movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries with masterpieces by the great impressionist and post-impressionist painters Vincent van Gogh, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Paul Gaugin and Claude Monet, among others. Western paintings, prints and other objects are juxtaposed throughout the exhibition with artworks by celebrated Japanese masters including Kitagawa Utamaro, Utagawa Hiroshige, and Katsushika Hokusai. Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Accompanied by a catalogue.
Extracted
Now Through Aug. 14, 2016
Where is the line between history and mythology? In Extracted, artist Ranu Mukherjee eclipses the boundaries between the two, placing them in the same universe through colorful, collage-like video, textiles and works on paper. Drawing inspiration from California’s Gold Rush, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the museum’s expansive collection, Mukherjee invites you into otherworldly landscapes inhabited by miners, a Chinese goddess with a leopard tail and tiger teeth, and other fantastical beings. Through its countless layers—image over image, fact mingled with fiction—Extracted creates tension between history and myth. Organized by the Asian Art Museum.
Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts
Feb. 26–May 8, 2016
An international loan exhibition of Islamic art organized in collaboration with the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts emphasizes the role of human relationships in inspiring and sustaining artistic creativity at imperial courts. The exhibition spans a geographic range from the Bay of Bengal to the Mediterranean Sea and dates from the 16th to the 18th century—a period marked by the global movement of ideas and technologies and increased interaction among various cultural and religious communities. Pearls on a String is organized into three vignettes, each pivoting around a main protagonist in three different centuries and in three empires of the Islamic world. Through 74 exquisite artworks, Pearls on String tells the stories of a writer in 16th-century Mughal India, a painter in 17th-century Safavid Iran, and a patron in 18th-century Ottoman Turkey. Organized by the Walters Art Museum and the Asian Art Museum. Accompanied by a catalogue.
China at the Center: Rare Ricci and Verbiest World Maps
March 4–May 8, 2016
China at the Center showcases two rare 17th-century maps, including A Complete Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the World, created by Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci and his Chinese colleagues at the Ming court in 1602. Monumental in size (roughly 5 feet by 12 feet), and called the “impossible black tulip” because of its rarity, the map will be presented in China at the Center: Rare Ricci and Verbiest World Maps. On loan from the James Ford Bell Trust, the Ricci map is one of six complete copies in the world today and the oldest known Chinese map to depict the Americas. Ferdinand Verbiest, another Jesuit, made his 1674 A Complete Map of the World for the Chinese court. On loan from the Library of Congress, this copy of the Verbiest map has never been exhibited. These two maps are among the earliest, rarest and largest woodblock-printed maps to survive from the period. Both maps tell captivating stories about the world of the 17th century and illustrate how Europe and Asia exchanged new ideas about geography, astronomy and the natural sciences. Organized by the Asian Art Museum in partnership with the University of San Francisco. Accompanied by a catalogue.
Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware from Korea
April 29–Oct. 23, 2016
Featuring nearly 20 objects, most from the museum’s collection, Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware from Korea showcases the significance of Korean mother-of-pearl lacquer wares, highlighting aspects of their aesthetics, creation, use and conservation. It will be the first in-depth exhibition in the United States to explore this remarkable subject matter. Organized by the Asian Art Museum.
Liu Jianhua
Spring 2016
As a 50th anniversary gift to the museum, the Society for Asian Art has commissioned a major work by Liu Jianhua, one of China’s best-known contemporary ceramic sculpture artists. The work comprises approximately 2,500 pieces of white porcelain formed into letters of the English alphabet and components of Chinese characters, suspended from the ceiling of the second-floor Loggia. The artist provides only the building blocks of words, leaving it to viewers to create meaning. The artwork’s location is especially apropos: the space offers an opportunity for dialogue with the original engraved literary quotations on the Loggia’s walls, dating to the building’s previous incarnation as San Francisco’s Main Library. Organized by the Asian Art Museum.
Hidden Gold: Mining Its Meaning in Asian Art
March 4–May 8, 2016
In 2016 the Asian Art Museum will celebrate its 50th anniversary, a “golden” milestone. Hidden Gold: Mining Its Meaning in Asian Art is an exhibition of 50 artworks that together reveal the unique physical and symbolic aspects of gold—qualities that make this precious metal so important in the history of both Asian art and California. Ranging from a Qur’an manuscript to a Daoist ceremonial robe to a Mongolian Buddha bronze sculpture, the artworks reveal specific aspects of gold production and usage across Asia. In addition, an innovative installation including both California gold nuggets and Asian coinage explores how gold is extracted and transformed into money. San Francisco’s position on the world stage—as well as the prominence of Asia and Asian culture in California—stems from the area’s Gold Rush legacy. It’s a history that continues to inform today’s culture in the Golden State. Organized by the Asian Art Museum.
Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei
June 17–Sept. 18, 2016
Serving as the centerpiece of the Asian Art Museum’s 50th anniversary year is Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei. The museum is partnering with the renowned Taiwan-based museum, to arrange for the rare presentation of more than 150 imperial artworks, many of which are making their U.S. debut.
On view June 17 through Sept. 18, 2016, Emperors’ Treasures presents examples of the finest craftsmanship and imperial taste, including 30 extremely rare masterpieces, some created by the emperors themselves. Highlights include a vase from the official Ru ware of the Northern Song dynasty; one of only two surviving blue-and-white Ming vases depicting West Asian entertainers; the “holy grail” of Chinese porcelains, a cup with a chicken design; the White Falcon painting by Italian Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglione; and a calligraphy piece by Emperor Huizong, recognized for his “Slender Gold” style. In addition, the celebrated “Meat-shaped stone,” a jasper stone intricately carved into the mouth-watering shape of a braised pork belly, will travel to the U.S. for the first time.
The exhibition is co-curated by Jay Xu, director of the Asian Art Museum, and Li He, associate curator of Chinese art. “By providing visitors with an unprecedented opportunity to experience this remarkable collection of masterpieces from imperial China, the Asian Art Museum is renewing and deepening its 50-year commitment to illuminating the artistic traditions of Asian cultures for our local and global audiences,” said Xu.
This exhibition will explore the identities of nine rulers—eight emperors and one empress—who reigned from the early 12th through early 20th centuries. They will be portrayed in a story line that highlights artworks of their eras, from the dignified Song to the coarse yet subtle Yuan, and from the brilliant Ming until the final, dazzling Qing dynasty. The exhibition will dissect each ruler’s distinct contribution to the arts and examine how each developed his or her aesthetic and connoisseurship. By exploring the richness of each subject, style and type of craftsmanship, the exhibition outlines how Chinese art came to develop and flourish under Han Chinese, Mongol and Manchu rulers. The exhibition will feature paintings, calligraphy, bronze vessels, ceramics, lacquerware, jades, textiles, enamelware and documents.
Emperors’ Treasures is made possible by a generous grant from Presenting Sponsor The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation. “This important support from The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation enables the Asian Art Museum to curate and present Emperors’ Treasures, which will expose a global audience to the beauty and depth of Chinese art and culture,” said Xu.
Ted Lipman, CEO of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, noted: “This exhibition marks the third collaboration between the Asian Art Museum and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation. A key mission of the Foundation is to promote Chinese culture and the arts to Western audiences to increase understanding and appreciation of this ancient legacy. Nowhere does the 5,000 years of Chinese history manifest itself more beautifully and comprehensively than the exquisite imperial collection, which has been lovingly conserved and displayed at the National Palace Museum, Taipei. Through support for this significant exhibition, the Foundation seeks to provide visitors with an unprecedented opportunity to witness China’s vibrant cultural heritage at first-hand.”
Following the Asian Art Museum’s presentation, the exhibition will travel to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (Oct. 23, 2016–Jan. 22, 2017).
EXHIBITION ORGANIZATION
Emperors’ Treasures: Chinese Art from the National Palace Museum, Taipei was co-organized by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and the National Palace Museum, Taipei. Presentation is made possible with the generous support of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, East West Bank, Robert and Vivian Tsao, Diane B. Wilsey, BizLink Technology, Inc., Lee Chen, Douglas A. Tilden, The Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Fund for Excellence in Exhibitions and Presentations, Julia K. Cheng, Winnie and Michael Feng, Mary M. Tanenbaum Fund, and Rita Wong. For more information, go to www.asianart.org.
The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe
Oct. 21, 2016–Jan. 15, 2017
The Rama Epic—recounting the struggle of Prince Rama to defeat a powerful demonic king, rescue his abducted wife and reestablish virtuous order in the world—has been a prime subject for visual and performing arts, literature and religious thought in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia for many centuries. A huge number of artworks of all kinds relating to the Rama legends have been made over the course of 1,500 years in a dozen countries. The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe illustrates some of the most important episodes involving the four primary characters: the hero, Rama; the heroine, Rama’s wife Sita; the ally, Rama’s faithful monkey lieutenant Hanuman; and the foe, the ten-headed demon king Ravana. The exhibition tells the story in a new light using more than 130 artworks, ranging from paintings to puppets to decorative arts to contemporary works to ephemera, inviting visitors to find echoes of their own experiences in the stories of each character. Organized by the Asian Art Museum. Accompanied by a catalogue
Asian Art Museum Collection Galleries
Ongoing
More than 2,500 extraordinary works from the museum’s renowned collection are displayed in the second- and third- floor galleries. Together these works constitute a comprehensive introduction to the major cultures of Asia. Immense Indian stone sculptures, intricately carved Chinese jades, vibrant Korean paintings, mystical Tibetan thangkas (ritual paintings on cloth), serene Cambodian Buddhas, richly decorated Islamic manuscripts, and colorful Japanese kimonos are just a few of the treasures on view. Every six months, the museum refreshes dozens of artworks from each geographic region with new selections from storage, providing visitors a unique perspective on each visit. These items are indicated with “Newly on View” tags on the labels.
Dates and exhibitions are subject to change. Please visit www.asianart.org to confirm information.
The Asian Art Museum–Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture is one of San Francisco’s premier arts institutions and home to a world-renowned collection of more than 18,000 Asian art treasures spanning 6,000 years of history. Through rich art experiences centered on historic and contemporary artworks, the Asian Art Museum unlocks the past for visitors, bringing it to life while serving as a catalyst for new art, new creativity and new thinking. Information: 415.581.3500 or www.asianart.org.
HOURS: The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours during spring and summer until 9 PM. Closed Mondays, as well as New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
GENERAL ADMISSION: FREE for museum members, $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (65+), college students with ID, and youths (13–17). FREE for children under 12 and SFUSD students with ID. General admission on Thursdays after 5 PM is $5 for all visitors (except those under 12, SFUSD students, and museum members, who are always admitted FREE). General admission is FREE to all on Target First Free Sundays (the first Sunday of every month). A surcharge may apply for admission to special exhibitions.
ACCESS: The Asian Art Museum is wheelchair accessible. For more information regarding access: 415.581.3598; TDD: 415.861.2035.
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