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Exotic cultures add to local offerings
By Shi Xiaohan |
July 18, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HANGZHOU is home to beautiful scenery which inspired generations of poets and artists who helped form traditional Chinese culture. This summer, exhibitions illustrating the unique culture of the ethnic minorities, ancient civilizations and aboriginal arts add exotic flavor to the city's cultural fiesta.
Costume and Ornaments of Yunnan Ethnic Minorities
Out of the 56 ethnic minorities in China, 26 live in the southwestern Yunnan Province. The diversity contributes to the colorful culture of Yunnan which makes it a top destination for travelers in China.
For those who have no time for a summer escape to Yunnan, a visit to the "Costume and Ornaments of Yunnan Ethnic Minorities" exhibition is an ideal substitute. This exhibition displays the dress and ornamentation of some 22 ethnic minorities living in Yunnan, including Dai, Bai, Naxi, Hani and Lahu. Most of the 100 exhibits are classic products manufactured by minority handicraftsmen from the 1950s to 1980s, and were recently collected by Yunnan Nationalities Museum.
The exhibition is divided into several sections. Pictures of women of different minorities in Yunnan along with text provide a general introduction to the colorful minority cultures in Yunnan. The traditional costumes and ornaments section shows vividly the beauty and great delicacy of the minorities' daily life. A deeper look into the religious life and festival traditions of Yunnan minorities is also available with exhibits such as a canon of books and wooden paintings. Visitors can also learn craftsmanship techniques via images and videos at the exhibition.
Date: through August 10
Venue: China Silk Museum, 73 Yuhuangshan Rd
Admission: Free
Splendor of Hawaii and Polynesia
Some archeologists believe that the remote ancestors of Polynesian civilization, a civilization on the Pacific islands, were actually from China more than 5,000 years ago. The "Splendor of Hawaii and Polynesia" exhibition uses more than 150 exhibits selected from Bishop Museum, Hawaii to solve the ancient mystery of the civilization.
"Studies in archaeology, historical linguistics and genetics show that in prehistory, the coastal area in southeast China was the ultimate homeland of the Austronesians in the Pacific, including the Polynesians," said Jiao Tianlong, chairman of anthropology at Bishop Museum.
"Polynesian civilization adopted the same architecture style as the Hemudu civilization in ancient China. Both civilizations relied on hunting for fish in the sea for their livelihood," explained Jiao.
For non-archeologists, the exhibition could also be a fun chance to look back through time. Exhibits such as wooden pillows, paddles, masks and accessories including necklaces and ear pins made of animal tooth put the pieces of the ancient picture together.
"I hope the exhibition can spread and pass on the heritage of our remote ancestors," said Chen Hao, curator of Zhejiang Museum.
Date: through July 25
Venue: Zhejiang Museum's Wulin branch, E Area, West Lake Culture Plaza
Admission: Free
Indigenous Culture ofWestern Australia
"Our Land, Our Body" is an exhibition bringing 65 major works from the Warburton Acrylic Collection to seven major cities in China. It is the largest exhibition of indigenous Australian art ever to come to China and forms one of the key events for the Year of Australian Culture in China.
The Hangzhou stop of the exhibition tour is also a celebration of the 25th anniversary of sister state relations between Zhejiang Province and Western Australia.
All the artworks were created by the Ngaanyatjarra people in the Warburton Ranges in remote Western Australia. The exhibition is produced by the Warburton Arts Project, which has been collecting indigenous paintings since its establishment in 1989. After more than two decades it has accumulated more than 700 paintings which contain rich information about the life and culture of the Aboriginal people. Visitors can admire these beautiful paintings and the family trees of the Ngaanyatjarra people in Warburton.
The exhibits were installed in unique ways. The walls of the exhibition space are prepared with several layers of genealogies. Multiple pages of narrative text and more than 6,100 photographs taken by indigenous children in Western Australia fill the walls. A 20-channel digital immersive environmental sound installation and a large audio-visual data-projecting installation are also important parts of the exhibition space.
Date: through July 24
Venue: West Lake Gallery, 25 Gushan Rd
Admission: Free
Costume and Ornaments of Yunnan Ethnic Minorities
Out of the 56 ethnic minorities in China, 26 live in the southwestern Yunnan Province. The diversity contributes to the colorful culture of Yunnan which makes it a top destination for travelers in China.
For those who have no time for a summer escape to Yunnan, a visit to the "Costume and Ornaments of Yunnan Ethnic Minorities" exhibition is an ideal substitute. This exhibition displays the dress and ornamentation of some 22 ethnic minorities living in Yunnan, including Dai, Bai, Naxi, Hani and Lahu. Most of the 100 exhibits are classic products manufactured by minority handicraftsmen from the 1950s to 1980s, and were recently collected by Yunnan Nationalities Museum.
The exhibition is divided into several sections. Pictures of women of different minorities in Yunnan along with text provide a general introduction to the colorful minority cultures in Yunnan. The traditional costumes and ornaments section shows vividly the beauty and great delicacy of the minorities' daily life. A deeper look into the religious life and festival traditions of Yunnan minorities is also available with exhibits such as a canon of books and wooden paintings. Visitors can also learn craftsmanship techniques via images and videos at the exhibition.
Date: through August 10
Venue: China Silk Museum, 73 Yuhuangshan Rd
Admission: Free
Splendor of Hawaii and Polynesia
Some archeologists believe that the remote ancestors of Polynesian civilization, a civilization on the Pacific islands, were actually from China more than 5,000 years ago. The "Splendor of Hawaii and Polynesia" exhibition uses more than 150 exhibits selected from Bishop Museum, Hawaii to solve the ancient mystery of the civilization.
"Studies in archaeology, historical linguistics and genetics show that in prehistory, the coastal area in southeast China was the ultimate homeland of the Austronesians in the Pacific, including the Polynesians," said Jiao Tianlong, chairman of anthropology at Bishop Museum.
"Polynesian civilization adopted the same architecture style as the Hemudu civilization in ancient China. Both civilizations relied on hunting for fish in the sea for their livelihood," explained Jiao.
For non-archeologists, the exhibition could also be a fun chance to look back through time. Exhibits such as wooden pillows, paddles, masks and accessories including necklaces and ear pins made of animal tooth put the pieces of the ancient picture together.
"I hope the exhibition can spread and pass on the heritage of our remote ancestors," said Chen Hao, curator of Zhejiang Museum.
Date: through July 25
Venue: Zhejiang Museum's Wulin branch, E Area, West Lake Culture Plaza
Admission: Free
Indigenous Culture ofWestern Australia
"Our Land, Our Body" is an exhibition bringing 65 major works from the Warburton Acrylic Collection to seven major cities in China. It is the largest exhibition of indigenous Australian art ever to come to China and forms one of the key events for the Year of Australian Culture in China.
The Hangzhou stop of the exhibition tour is also a celebration of the 25th anniversary of sister state relations between Zhejiang Province and Western Australia.
All the artworks were created by the Ngaanyatjarra people in the Warburton Ranges in remote Western Australia. The exhibition is produced by the Warburton Arts Project, which has been collecting indigenous paintings since its establishment in 1989. After more than two decades it has accumulated more than 700 paintings which contain rich information about the life and culture of the Aboriginal people. Visitors can admire these beautiful paintings and the family trees of the Ngaanyatjarra people in Warburton.
The exhibits were installed in unique ways. The walls of the exhibition space are prepared with several layers of genealogies. Multiple pages of narrative text and more than 6,100 photographs taken by indigenous children in Western Australia fill the walls. A 20-channel digital immersive environmental sound installation and a large audio-visual data-projecting installation are also important parts of the exhibition space.
Date: through July 24
Venue: West Lake Gallery, 25 Gushan Rd
Admission: Free
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