The room is dim as you walk into the lower gallery of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts exhibit. Before you sits scrolls and artifacts dating back almost 800 years; pieces rarely seen by foreign eyes. This rare chance to gaze behind one of China’s most legendary locations is an exciting look into a different time and world and it’s burred in the heart of the Museum District.
The room is dim as you walk into the lower gallery of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts exhibit. Before you sits scrolls and artifacts dating back almost 800 years; pieces rarely seen by foreign eyes. This rare chance to gaze behind one of China’s most legendary locations is an exciting look into a different time and world and it’s burred in the heart of the Museum District.
On October 18th the VMFA will debut their newest exhibition, Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures From The Palace Museum, Beijing. The VMFA collaborated with the Palace Museum, located within the Forbidden City, the largest museum in China. The exhibit features over 200 objects which don’t often leave their sacred home.
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“We [the VMFA] have assembled an exhibition that is the most visual part of our relationship with the Palace Museum,” said Alex Nyerges, Executive Director of the VMFA. The relationship began in 2011 when the VMFA entered a partnership with the Palace Museum enabling the two to showcase each other’s collections and culture.
The VMFA is the first art museum in the United States to create a collaborative project (the series of projects between the two will continue until 2016) to this extent.
Forbidden City shows works from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The VMFA hopes the public will gain a better appreciation for Chinese artwork, culture, and most of all, Chinese people.
Nyerges noted he traveled to Beijing and began exploring opportunities with his Chinese colleagues which lead him inside the walls of the many galleries at the historic palace. Most of the objects on view will be seen by patrons for the first time – some he’s never even seen before.
Each piece was selected specifically for the exhibition, and some of the greatest treasures at the Palace Museum. The 200 objects the exhibition showcases include court paintings, religious sculptures, portraits of emperors and empresses and much much more.
Li Jan, E. Rhodes, and Leona B. Carpenter are the curators for Forbidden City. Jan said the exhibition was divided into four sections and the large scale of the artwork presented the biggest challenge.
The four sections include: Rituals of the Qinq Court, Court Arts in the Inner Court, Court Paintings, and Religion in the Palace.
The exhibition is truly exquisite, Nyerges joked that if you hadn’t been to the Forbidden City in Beijing and didn’t want to buy a plane ticket all you had to do was come to the VMFA to experience the breathtaking culture, and he is right.
Each piece is outstanding, the intricate hand made details alone on the scrolls, statues, and wardrobe pieces are something that can only be truly appreciated once seen and studied up close and in person.
The VMFA also did a great job paying attention to detail and adding to the ambiance of the exhibit. In the Court Paintings section you feel as if you are in a beautiful garden, not only because of the art surrounding you, but The light shines down on us, the pieces, and onto the floor as if the sun is shining through tree tops.
It creates a really beautiful effect though out the collection’s rooms.
Aside from the 200 Chinese relics on display, the VMFA has also introduced 3D printing into their exhibition. A replica of the Forbidden City is being reproduced in order to show just how large the Forbidden City really is.
Over 900 buildings are within the city, and the VMFA is printing hundreds of these one by one. The 3D display can be seen inside of the exhibit.
Forbidden City runs through Jan. 11th, you can snag tickets in person or online here.
