INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
Bridging Worlds: The Art and Artistry of Mei Lanfang
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 1-5:30pm
This international symposium delves into the rich artistic universe of Mei Lanfang, taking the exhibition Dancing Goddess: Mei Lanfang in America as a point of departure. Through a series of focused presentations, speakers will examine the defining elements of Mei’s artistic practice, from the codified symbolism of the orchid hand gestures to the performances of Rainbow Pass across four countries, using case studies in cultural dislocation and aesthetic translation.
Embracing the inherently cross-disciplinary nature of Mei’s practice, the program brings together five scholars from various fields, including art history, theater studies, philosophy, and media theory. Their presentations will collectively illuminate how Mei’s work functioned not only as the pinnacle of Chinese theater but also as a dynamic site of cross-cultural encounter. By bringing these broader inquiries into dialogue, the symposium invites scholars, students, and the public to reflect on the enduring legacy of an oeuvre that continues to defy categorization.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Wang Kui – Director of the Opera Research Institute, Chinese National Academy of Arts
Dr. Ling Hon Lam – Associate Professor, Department of East Asian Languages and Culture, University of California, Berkeley
Dr. Nancy Yunhwa Rao – Board of Governors Distinguished Professor, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
Dr. Catherine Yeh – Professor of Chinese and Comparative Literature, Boston University
Topic: Mei Lanfang and the Twentieth-Century Global Stage
Dr. Judith Zeitlin – William R.Kenan, Jr.Distinguished Service Professor, The University of Chicago
Susanna Sun – Phd student, East Asian Language and Civilizations and Theater & Performance Studies, The University of Chicago
For more information, please contact Tracy Jiao at [email protected].
To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.
ASIA WEEK EXHIBITION AND EVENTS
Photograph from the opera Farewell, My Concubine, performed in the U.S., 1930, digital image, collection of Chinese National Academy of Arts, ©Chinese National Academy of Arts
The Dancing Goddess: Mei Lanfang in America
March 12 – July 12, 2026
Curator’s Talk: Thursday, March 12, 6:30-8pm
Asia Week New York Open House: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 10am-8pm (free admission with light refreshments)
Step into the vibrant world of Mei Lanfang, the 20th-century’s greatest performer of Peking Opera, whose sensational 1930 American tour forever changed the landscape of modern theater. In celebration of China Institute’s centennial, The Dancing Goddess: Mei Lanfang in America revisits this milestone of Sino-American cultural exchange, a pivotal moment sponsored by the Institute itself. Discover how Mei Lanfang, through a revolutionary fusion of song, dance, and psychological acting, captivated American audiences and inspired artists from Broadway to Hollywood.
Set of woodblock-printed playbills for Mei Lanfang’s plays, 1922, collection of Chinese National Academy of Arts, ©Chinese National Academy of Arts
The exhibition will feature an extraordinary collection of his revolutionary stage costumes, rare photographs, original production materials, and artwork that illuminate his creative genius. Join us to experience the story of an artist who bridged cultures, a legacy that embodies China Institute’s century-long mission of fostering a deeper understanding of China through art, education, and culture.
Red satin robe embroidered with gold dragons among clouds (female costume), Qing dynasty Yongzheng period, silk, shoulder-to-sleeve length: 220 cm; garment length: 119 cm, collection of Chinese National Academy of Arts ©Chinese National Academy of Arts
Presented in celebration of China Institute’s Centennial, the exhibition honors this defining chapter in our history and the enduring legacy of cross-cultural dialogue that Mei Lanfang inspired.
Be sure to take part in our special three-part program tracing the evolution of Peking opera through the revolutionary work of Mei Lanfang. The program opens with a lecture by the exhibition curator, Dr. Catherine V. Yeh (Boston University), who explores Mei’s pioneering interpretation of female roles in Peking opera, especially his origination of the novel huashan role. In the second part, Dr. Kui Wang, historian and director of the Opera Research Institute at Chinese National Academy of Art, examines the specific cultural and historical context of Mei’s innovations. The program concludes with a conversation with the two speakers and Dr. Xiaojie Shao, associate director of the Library at Chinese National Academy of Art about the intersections of their research and Mei’s remarkably well-preserved legacy continues to influence theater, gender representation, and cross-cultural dialogue today.
Purchase your tickets here. For more information, please contact Tracy Jiao at [email protected].
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
To learn more, click here.
About China Institute Gallery
China Institute Gallery is renowned for its intimate, first-class thematic exhibitions. Since 1966, the Gallery has presented more than 120 exhibitions showcasing both historical and contemporary works across a wide range of media and art forms. Covering 5,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic period to the present day, China Institute Gallery is the only non-commercial exhibition space solely dedicated to Chinese art in New York and the United States. China Institute Gallery will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026, reaffirming the gallery’s leadership in landmark historical exhibitions while expanding the gallery’s commitment to the vibrant world of contemporary Chinese art.
