Landscapes of the Mind:
Chinese Paintings of Nature from the Pacific Asia Museum Collection

October 17, 2004 through January 30, 2005

“One Hundred Butterflies” Jiang Ping China, Qing dynasty (1644-1912 AD),
19th C. Hand scroll of ink and color on paper
Pacific Asia Museum Collection,
gift of Mr. David L. Kamansky in memory of Lily C. Quon

As part of the Pasadena citywide collaborative exhibition, “The Tender Land: A Festival of Art, History, Music, and Science” Landscapes of the Mind: Chinese Paintings of Nature from the Pacific Asia Museum Collection will explore depictions of nature in traditional painting from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Drawing from the Museum’s collection of Chinese hanging scrolls, hand scrolls, and album leaves, the exhibition will explore the treatment of landscape (shanshui) paintings, which present a broad view of nature, and bird and flower (huaniao) paintings, which focus on nature’s details. Traditionally in China, such depictions of nature come from the mind of the artist, and are idealized representations of the natural world. In conjunction with this exhibition inside the galleries, guided tours and talks about the museum’s Chinese-inspired courtyard garden and its symbolic natural elements will be offered.

“Scholars Among Pavilions and Forests” detail Chang Hsi-an (1761-1829 AD). China, Qing dynasty, 1829. Hand scroll of ink and color on paper. Pacific Asia Museum Collection.

“The Tender Land” collaborative exhibition will kick off with a citywide celebration and Family Day on Saturday, October 9, 2004 and will continue through January 31, 2005. More than 30 cultural organizations, the Pasadena Unified School District, the city and several businesses are collaborating to offer performances, exhibitions, films, lessons, tours and discussions that explore how approaches to nature have changed through time and across cultures. Each organization participating in the consortium interprets “The Tender Land” theme independently, providing a citywide mosaic of nature’s complexity. This collaboration is the third such consortium organized in Pasadena.

Other major institutions in the consortium are Armory Center for the Arts, Art Center College of Design’s Williamson Gallery, California Institute of Technology, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, Norton Simon Museum, One Colorado shopping complex, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena Museum of History, Pasadena Symphony, Shumei Arts Council of America, and Southwest Chamber Music.

For more information about the exhibition, please call the Curatorial Department at ext. 19.

Related Events:

• Saturday October 16, 2 :00pm to 3:00pm
  Gardens In Asia: Varied Traditions with Dr. Bruce Coats
  Mughal paradise gardens, Chinese courtyard gardens and Japanese stroll gardens will be among the major landscape traditions discussed in this lecture that will survey the history of garden design in Asia. Dr. Bruce Coats is Professor of Art History and the Humanities at Scripps College and teaches about garden history and Asian arts for the Claremont Colleges. This program is free with museum admission. Please call ext. 31 for reservations. Sponsored by the Freeman Foundation.
   
• Friday October 19, 6 :00pm to 8:00pm
  Japanese and Chinese Gardens: One Concept, Two Interpretations with Steve Beimel
  Through a beautiful and dynamic slide show and lecture on Japanese and Chinese gardens, Steve Beimel, renowned expert on Japanese gardens, culture, arts and travel, will show that although the gardens of the two countries appear quite different, they are in fact based on the same design concepts and techniques. By comparing various garden elements, attendees will learn to clearly recognize the aesthetics of the two countries as they are applied in the creation of unique and wonderful garden environments.
  Steve Beimel will be leading a trip to Japan for Pacific Asia Museum members.
   
• Saturday December 11, 2pm - 3pm Curator’s Tour
  Meher McArthur
  Landscapes of the Mind
  Exhibition curator Meher McArthur will lead guests on a tour of Landscapes of the Mind, an exhibition of Chinese painting from the Qing and Ming Dynasties. Free with museum admission. Please call ext. 31 for reservations.
  

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