China is a large country consisting of 56 ethnic people. Various ethnical civilizations and cultures have assimilated each other bringing forward the splendid chinese culture.
One of the first things I was advised to do on my arrival is to check the Shanghai Museum.
Located in the center of Shanghai in People’s Square, Shanghai Museum is a large museum of ancient Chinese art. The museum style and presentation surround visitors with artifacts demonstrating ancient wisdom and philosophy. The exterior design of the round dome and the square base symbolizes the ancient idea of a round heaven and a square land.
The museum is divided into eleven galleries and three exhibition halls. The eleven Galleries cover most of the major categories of Chinese art: Ancient Bronze, Ancient Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Ancient Sculpture, Ancient Jade, Coins, Ming and Qing Furniture, Seals, and Minority Nationalities.
The bronze ware of the Shang and Zhou dynasties contribute to our understanding of ancient civilization. The over 400 pieces of exquisite bronze wares cover the history of ancient Chinese bronze art.
The ancient ceramics collection is a special Shanghai Museum treasure. Among the more than 500 pieces are artwork from various dynasties, such as painted and gray pottery from the Neolithic age, primitive celadon from the Shang, Zhou and Warring States, mature celadon from the East Han Dynasty, the well known tri-colored glazed pottery from the Tang Dynasty, blue, white and black glazed as well as painted porcelain from the Song, Jin and Liao, and the brilliant works from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, the center of the industry during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
Chinese paintings and calligraphy have profound traditions and unique national styles. Masterpieces from different periods and genres are featured.
The Gallery of Chinese Ancient Sculpture focuses mainly on Buddhist sculptures.
Jade in ancient China was both decoration and the symbol of wealth and power. It was further personified to symbolize perfect morality. The elegance of jade wares glows through its crystal colors and vivid patterns.
The Ming and Qing dynasties witnessed the heyday of Chinese furniture. The gallery shows a refined garden-like residence of that time. Even a simple chair demonstrates Chinese culture and etiquette.
First of its kind, the Gallery of Chinese Seals, reflects the importance of seals in history from the Western Zhou to the end of the Qing Dynasty.
But my favorite of all pictured in this post is the Chinese Ethnic Minoritie’s Arts and Crafts. I literally went mad and with my camera , lucky me, that in China visitor’s are allowed to take pictures, I shoot everywhere I could to collect what in my life I have always been fond of, textiles and ethnic folk crafts. And because tstangram is not allowed in China I worked on the texture of the images to give it a vintage , textured look.
The costumes of these ethnic groups as symbols of their futures, vary greatly in material, design, cold,style and associated ornaments with their different ways of life, modes and production. religious faiths,aestethic standards and geographic environments.
Beautiful textiles with woven, printed or embroidered designs and distinctive artifacts such as metal eve, laquer,pottery,masks , carved and kitted work are the reflection of people’s wisdom in art creation, skills of craftsmanship and deep love for life!
Joelle’s Tips:
The Museum: Shanghai Museum
