Rituals and radiance
Chinese New Year celebrations do not take place over just a day or two. They unfold across one or even two months, including the preparations and ceremonies held in advance. From the beginning of layue, the 12th and last month on the Chinese calendar, to Longtaitou Day on the second day of the second month of the Chinese New Year, each stage is marked by distinctive rituals carrying special meanings. The collective memories of these events, together with the ethical values they embody, create a deep emotional bond among Chinese people.
Spring Across Heaven and Earth, Blessings Within Homes: Rituals and Radiance of Nian, an ongoing exhibition at the Tsinghua University Art Museum until May 5, gathers works of art, crafts and installations to explore the philosophical ideas behind the festive celebrations. The exhibition shows how people prepare for the arrival of Spring Festival, following a chronological order beginning with the first day of layue. It also narrates the well-wishes, such as harmony, longevity, good luck and fortune, that are embodied in a wide variety of handicrafts and ceremonies.
9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. Tsinghua University, Haidian district, Beijing. 010-6278-1012.
Savoy heritage
The 18th century witnessed the House of Savoy forging alliances across Europe through marriage while achieving architectural brilliance through innovation. Amid a chinoiserie craze that swept through the continent, the family acquired Chinese porcelain, lacquerware and other treasures from the East via the Maritime Silk Road.
The long-term exhibition, Crown of Glory, now underway at Tianjin Museum, offers a glimpse of the splendor of the Savoy family and its era through artifacts from the Palazzo Madama in Turin, Italy. Maps, drawings and portraits re-create the grandeur of royal architecture. Costumes, furniture and interior decorations reveal the leisurely lifestyle of the aristocracy. Objects from China or works inspired by Chinese style are on show alongside European artworks and export ceramics from the Tianjin Museum collection, opening a dialogue on artistry and workmanship.
9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 62 Pingjiang Dao, Hexi district, Tianjin. 022-8388-3000.
Lacquer trilogy
Celebrating the minimalist beauty of the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, and the intricate aesthetics that adorned the royal courts of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Trilogy in Lacquer, the exhibition now on at Suzhou Museum West in Jiangsu province, orchestrates a visual symphony of ancient lacquer art, gentle in tone yet with historical echoes. The exhibition runs until May 10.
The exquisite objects resonate across different eras, reflecting how people connected with the world through the making of lacquerware. The exhibition also creates opportunities for dialogue that transcend regions and civilizations, highlighting the shared aesthetic aspirations embodied in lacquer art.
9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 399 Changjiang Lu, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. 0512-6757-1665.
