Celebrating Asian Art

through July 24

This installation examines the way Kabuki actor prints in Japan during the Edo period (1615—1868) functioned as conduits of fame and scandal. Explore the role of Kabuki actors as celebrities, the influence of the government, and fan culture. Grounded in Osaka’s actor print and Kabuki fan culture, the installation interweaves prints produced in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to explore topics of censorship and fandom as well as tales of banishment and rivalry.

In 2008, Jack Shear gifted the museum 525 Osaka prints increasing opportunities for nuanced discussions about the unique print culture in Osaka during the Edo period. A selection of images from this gift alongside other actor prints from the museum’s collection encourages connecting with Edo period Kabuki fandom and celebrity culture by drawing parallels with contemporary fan culture.

Tai Xiangzhou (born 1968), Isle of the Immortals (detail), 2021, 2021-114-1

Through October 29

Explore the questions of “what is nature?” and “what is the relationship between humans and nature?”. This exhibition features the work of four contemporary artists whose practices examine the boundaries between humans and nature from a philosophical, spiritual, and material perspective. All the featured artists embrace and adapt historic Chinese artistic traditions through their chosen materials, process, or themes.

Oneness: Nature & Connectivity in Chinese Art, which is curated by Hiromi Kinoshita, The Hannah L. and J. Welles Henderson Curator of Chinese Art and Gabrielle Niu, former Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow, shows that we are all connected, that our lives are closely linked with nature and how that impacts our world and environment. Works by Ming Fay, Tai Xiangzhou, and Wang Mansheng are shown in Gallery 321, while a large installation of ink paintings by Bingyi is featured in the Chinese Reception Hall, Gallery 326, and a series of related interventions is displayed in Gallery 334.

Read more and watch videos about the artists, click here

Through July 3
Explore the rich history of Japanese calligraphy, from traditional forms to contemporary interpretations. This installation features works in our collection from the seventeenth to the twentieth century, showcasing the many varieties of calligraphy as an art form. At the center of the exhibition is a new addition to our collection: Five Poems, by well-known priest Ryōkan (1758–1831). Learn about this large ink-on-paper screen from the late Edo period alongside traditional stationery tools—such as an inkstone and a water dropper—as well as prints, furniture, and posters that feature calligraphic scripts.

Encounters In Exile: From the Ramayana (The Journey of Rama)
The Ramayana is an ancient epic that is recounted, visualized, and performed throughout South Asia. Explore diverse interpretations of this story from the 1200s to 2005 spanning different mediums including paper, stone, and fabric.

Made by Hand: Contemporary Korean Craft
Experience the past and the present coming together in contemporary Korean craft. These featured artists find inspiration in Korea’s acclaimed tradition of handmade objects and add their own visual language to the rich mix of techniques, materials, and forms.

Collection Highlight: Temple Hall
The more than sixty carved granite elements that comprise this monumental space were collected by Philadelphian Adeline Pepper Gibson during a visit in 1912 to Madurai, a city in the south of India known for its spectacular Hindu temples. Debuting to the public in the museum’s original home at Memorial Hall in 1920, the mandapam opened at its current location in 1940. Although a reconstruction, it incorporates many original architectural elements and provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the extraordinary synthesis of sculpture, architecture, and symbol that characterizes South India’s elaborate temple form.

Collection Highlight: Ceremonial Teahouse
The name of this teahouse, Sunkaraku (Evanescent Joys), reflects the spirit of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony as a temporary refuge from the complexities of daily life. The architecture reveals a special delight in natural materials, such as bamboo and cedar. Using elements from an eighteenth-century teahouse, Ōgi Rodō designed this retreat around 1917 for the grounds of his Tokyo home. Acquired by the museum from the architect in 1928, this is the only example of his work outside Japan.

Arts of the Islamic World
Islam began over 1,400 years ago in the Arabian Peninsula and soon spread across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Today Muslims live on every continent and make up a quarter of the world’s population. The term “Islamic Art” refers to a variety of artwork made by and for Muslims over the centuries. Here are some exquisite examples drawn from the museum’s collection.

Mindfulness - Online exhibition
Mindfulness has become a key component in contemporary life, teaching us to focus inward through an awareness of our breathing, thoughts, and immediate surroundings. This practice reduces stress, induces relaxation, and calms the mind. Shown here are objects from our South Asian collection that represent and inspire mindfulness, offering a few moments of tranquility in these uncertain times.