Chicago hosts symposium on ancient Chinese bronzes

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Bronze experts from China and the US gathered in Chicago on Friday to explore the cultural practices surrounding ancient Chinese bronzes.

In conjunction with the on-going exhibition Mirroring China's Past: Emperors and Their Bronzes, the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Chicago organized a symposium on Chinese bronzes, both in their original context and later as revered objects collected by emperors and scholars.

File of ancient Chinese bronze antiques on display /Photo via China Online Museum

During the two-day event, scholars in the fields of archaeology, art history and classical literature will delve into the social, political and religious meanings and artistic practices of Chinese bronze culture from antiquity to modern times.

"Over the centuries, bronze vessels, their designs and endless varied surrogates took on new life as references to the humane spirit of China' best cultural traditions," said keynote speaker Martin Powers, professor of Chinese arts and cultures at the University of Michigan.

On Friday, Wang Tao, the curator of Chinese art at the Art Institute of Chicago, made a cultural analysis of bronze color and patina from the bronze age to modern times, while Eugene Wang, professor from Harvard University explained to the audience why a tiger and an owl co-exist on a Shang bronze vessel – possible symbols referring to the seasonal and life cycles, or Ying and Yang energies.

File of ancient Chinese bronze antiques on display /Photo via China Online Museum‍

Han Ding, an associate professor from China's Henan University, briefed on how to understand Shang bronze motifs in their archaeological context.

On Saturday, scholars will touch on more topics, such as how the passion for ancient vessels fostered the development of a new 19th century art form, and the archaistic design of Song-Yuan bronzes.

The exhibition itself, open to the public from February 25 to May 13, provides viewers with a new understanding of ancient Chinese bronzes and their significance through time.

The Art Institute of Chicago has brought together some 180 ancient bronzes from its own holdings as well as leading museums in China and the US to illuminate China's fascinating history.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency