By Audrey Wang, AGGV Volunteer
The process of sericulture is well documented in a series of paintings bound in an album in the AGGV collection. Albums such as these were made mostly in the 19th century for the export market. Today, they serve as a clear document on how silk is made.
By Audrey Wang, AGGV Volunteer
The AGGV’s collection of porcelains from the Nanking Cargo is a clear representation of the types of ceramic wares that the VOC imported in large quantities to Holland.
By Audrey Wang, AGGV Volunteer
Seals were used well over 3,000 years ago in China to authenticate official documents. They continued to be used throughout Chinese history, acting as a signature for documents, but also in paintings and calligraphies.
By Audrey Wang, AGGV Volunteer
In the exhibition Celebrating the AGGV Collection, three contemporary artworks stand out for their interconnectedness with other parts of the AGGV’s collection.
By Audrey Wang, AGGV Volunteer
Yixing wares are so called after the Yixing kilns in Jiangsu province in China, for which the region is famous. The brown and red stonewares are known as zisha (‘purple sand’) in Chinese.
By Audrey Wang
The bustling metropolis of 18th-century Edo (now Tokyo) is rendered in vibrant colours in the AGGV’s extensive collection of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. A veritable insight into life in the big city, the prints allow the viewer to live vicariously among the gentry or as the commoner, while celebrating the prosperity and the effervescence of Edo.
What on earth could that be? The AGGV’s permanent collection houses a variety of interesting and unusual vessels from around the world. What were the function of these items? Test your knowledge in our quiz!
Currently on show at the AGGV is Collecting & Connecting: Recent Asian Art Acquisitions. It is the first exhibition curated by Dr. Heng Wu as the new Asian Art Curator at the Gallery. We speak to her about this show, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the logistics of display and her vision for the AGGV’s Asian art collection.