Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Chinese Lacquer 1200-1800
This exhibition highlights the Museum's Chinese and Ryukyu island (better known as Okinawa) lacquers and includes many important loans, showcasing the wide variety of techniques, styles, and forms of lacquer, as well as its uses.
Where
Chinese lacquer, derived from the sap or resin of trees native to China, has been made for more than 2,000 years. Technically challenging and time-consuming to create, lacquer was considered a luxury material, on par with gold and silver, and was created for the Imperial court and wealthy elite, as well as scholars and eventually the merchant class.
This exhibition highlights the Museum’s Chinese and Ryukyu island (better known as Okinawa) lacquers and includes many important loans, showcasing the wide variety of techniques, styles, and forms of lacquer, as well as its uses. It also shows the transfer of imagery and themes across different media including paintings and porcelains, furniture, presentation boxes for special occasions, incense boxes, sutra covers, and even birdcages.
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?