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VMFA Reveals New Exhibit That Showcases Artifacts from Beijing
November 2014
By Taylor Rawls
“If you can imagine fairies to be the size of ordinary mortals, this then was fairyland. Never have I beheld a scene which realized one’s ideas of an enchanted land before.” Reverend J.L. McGhee said this of Beijing’s Forbidden City in 1862 and if VMFA’s newest exhibit is any indication, the sentiment has remained true to this day. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts revealed a new exhibit on October 18, 2014 entitled Forbidden City: Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing. The exhibit contains over 200 artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties and is sure to intrigue and inspire its viewers.
This exciting exhibit marks a series of firsts for both the Palace Museum in Beijing and VMFA, who began a seven-year partnership three years ago. VMFA is the first art museum in the United States to establish this type of collaborative project with the Palace Museum, which currently has 1.8 million objects and had 15 million visitors last year. This is also the first time VMFA has hosted an exhibition of Chinese art directly from China. The exhibit is exclusive to Richmond and will be shown nowhere else in the country. Because this is a collaborative project, items from VMFA, including items from the Fabergé collection, have been sent to China. This is the first time that an American museum will be showcased inside the walls of the Forbidden City.
Li Jian, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Curator of East Asian Art at VMFA, said the theme of the exhibit is “the importance of cultural diversity.” The exhibit gives viewers the opportunity to see what life was like for the upper class in a different country and how different life was hundreds of years ago. All of the artifacts—ranging from instruments and paintings to incense burners and clothing-- are from the rulers of the Qing and Ming dynasties and offer glimpses into the daily life of the wealthy and elite. Some of the most impressive artifacts, like the luxuriously embroidered robes worn by the emperor and empress, represent hundreds of hours of meticulous work by hand and were crafted centuries ago. Everything, even the teapots, are ornate, elaborate, and beautifully decorated.
“If you can imagine fairies to be the size of ordinary mortals, this then was fairyland. Never have I beheld a scene which realized one’s ideas of an enchanted land before.” Reverend J.L. McGhee said this of Beijing’s Forbidden City in 1862 and if VMFA’s newest exhibit is any indication, the sentiment has remained true to this day. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts revealed a new exhibit on October 18, 2014 entitled Forbidden City: Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing. The exhibit contains over 200 artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties and is sure to intrigue and inspire its viewers.
This exciting exhibit marks a series of firsts for both the Palace Museum in Beijing and VMFA, who began a seven-year partnership three years ago. VMFA is the first art museum in the United States to establish this type of collaborative project with the Palace Museum, which currently has 1.8 million objects and had 15 million visitors last year. This is also the first time VMFA has hosted an exhibition of Chinese art directly from China. The exhibit is exclusive to Richmond and will be shown nowhere else in the country. Because this is a collaborative project, items from VMFA, including items from the Fabergé collection, have been sent to China. This is the first time that an American museum will be showcased inside the walls of the Forbidden City.
Li Jian, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Curator of East Asian Art at VMFA, said the theme of the exhibit is “the importance of cultural diversity.” The exhibit gives viewers the opportunity to see what life was like for the upper class in a different country and how different life was hundreds of years ago. All of the artifacts—ranging from instruments and paintings to incense burners and clothing-- are from the rulers of the Qing and Ming dynasties and offer glimpses into the daily life of the wealthy and elite. Some of the most impressive artifacts, like the luxuriously embroidered robes worn by the emperor and empress, represent hundreds of hours of meticulous work by hand and were crafted centuries ago. Everything, even the teapots, are ornate, elaborate, and beautifully decorated.
In addition to the impressive collection of artifacts, VMFA is currently working on building a 3D model of the Forbidden City. Each day new buildings are added. VMFA also started a crowdfunding campaign to create excitement for the new exhibit and raise funds for exhibitions. The goal for the campaign was $40,000, but as of Wednesday morning, October 20th, $61,225 had been raised. VMFA also collaborated with Hardywood brewery to create Forbidden Beer. It is a Belgian white ale that is infused with Asian dragon fruit which turns the beer a shade of pink. It’s available on tap at Hardywood and at various retail outlets, including Total Wine and Trader Joe’s Corks & Kegs.
The exhibit contains many different artifacts from the Qing and Ming dynasties, including musical instruments, incense burners, paintings, and clothing. There is one instrument that is at least eight feet tall and looks like a large wind chime. Different notes are played by hitting individual pieces of jade with a mallet. The clothing is extremely elaborate, often decorated with flowers, dragons, water, and mountains. There is clothing from both the emperor and the empress and there are even crowns, belts, and jewelry worn by the former rulers.
The Forbidden City exhibit is a wonderful chance to experience and learn about a different culture. Everyone should take advantage of this unique opportunity and spend an afternoon at VMFA before the exhibition ends on January 11, 2015. Tickets are available here.
The exhibit contains many different artifacts from the Qing and Ming dynasties, including musical instruments, incense burners, paintings, and clothing. There is one instrument that is at least eight feet tall and looks like a large wind chime. Different notes are played by hitting individual pieces of jade with a mallet. The clothing is extremely elaborate, often decorated with flowers, dragons, water, and mountains. There is clothing from both the emperor and the empress and there are even crowns, belts, and jewelry worn by the former rulers.
The Forbidden City exhibit is a wonderful chance to experience and learn about a different culture. Everyone should take advantage of this unique opportunity and spend an afternoon at VMFA before the exhibition ends on January 11, 2015. Tickets are available here.
