News| Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Exhibits Treasures of Han Dynasty from Xuzhou

     On Dec. 15th, 2017 local time, the exhibition for treasures of the Han Dynasty from Xuzhou, with the theme "Dreams of the Kings: A Jade Suit for Eternity", which was jointly organized and planned by Xuzhou Museum and China Institute Gallery, opened in Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Hong Lei, the consul-general, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Zhang Min, a consular from the culture group; Julian Zugazagoitia, curator of Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; Marc Wilson, honorary curator; Colin Mackenzie, director of the Oriental Art Department; and Willow Hai, curator of China Institute Gallery, attended the opening ceremony and visited the exhibition.

      One hundred and six pieces of cultural relics in 76 groups were exhibited, including 14 pieces of first grade cultural relics, 37 pieces of second grade, and 26 pieces of third grade. The exhibition lasted until April 2018.

      Consul-general Hong Lei conveyed congratulations on the opening ceremony in his address. He said that the Han Dynasty is a period of great prosperity with advanced economy and profound art in Chinese history, and plays a significant role in Chinese civilization. The Han culture centered on the Han Chinese culture and absorbed the culture essences of other nationalities. As a result, it has granted a unified multi-ethnic culture to the Chinese Nation. This exhibition, by displaying jade, pottery figurines, seals, and bronze ware, has fully shown the social life in the Han Dynasty. In addition, the Han Dynasty is a heyday of ancient Chinese jade, especially the jade suit, a national treasure, which represents the extremely high level of jade craft in this period. The American visitors have been given an experience of the Chinese art and culture in the Han Dynasty by appreciating these cultural relics at close range.

      Mr. Julian Zugazagoitia indicated in his address that it was an honor for Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to host the exhibition, which displayed impressing cultural relics. The Chinese have profound civilization with a long history. The museum will continue to cooperate with China and promote cultural exchanges between the United States and China.
      Before the exhibition opened, our staff went to Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for the preparation work. They worked together with the American staff in unboxing, inspection, handover and exhibits arrangement, in a careful and orderly way according to the work procedures.