A Little Piece of China in Ardwick

On Friday 22nd October we installed  the China: Journey of the East off-site exhibition in the Manchester Chinese Centre, Ardwick. This is the fourth in a successful series of off-site exhibitions as managed by Andrea Winn Curator of Community Exhibitions.

China: Journey to the East off-site exhibition. Manchester Chinese Centre, Ardwick. 2010.

Jenny Wong, Director of the Manchester Chinese Centre, and some volunteers selected a number of objects from the Manchester Museum Living Cultures collection. The group visited the Living Cultures Asia store and were able to choose from a fantastic array of Chinese objects. The objects on display include a beautiful jade thumbring and a lucky coin sword!

China: Journey to the East off-site exhibition. Manchester Chinese Centre, Ardwick. 2010.

The exhibition will run until the beginning of February 2011 and will hopefully encourage Manchester Chinese Centre users to visit the main China: Journey to East exhibition in the Manchester Museum.  

Stephen Terence Welsh

Curator of Living Cultures

A Taste For China….

Since the exhibition opened at the end of September visitors have come from far and wide to learn more about Chinese culture and history.  It’s quite clear that there is a strong appetite for all things Chinese in Manchester!

Over the past several weeks the Museum has  staged a whole series of fantastic events dedicated to the many themes of the exhibition. The Big Saturday Chinese New Moon or Mid-Autumn Festival was a great success and visitors were treated to a very special performance by some young members of the Manchester Chinese Centre. Dressed in an array of bright costumes the performers gave a sterling rendition of the Jade Rabbit myth!

Given the taste for tea in the UK it is unsurprising that the University of Manchester Confucius Institute Chinese tea ceremony was very popular. Spring, a tutor with the Institute, gave a marvellous talk followed by an opportunity to taste a range of Chinese teas. The Confucius Institute will be running similar talks over the next several months  all of which are completely free and open to the public.

The exhibition has also proved a very useful resource for students at the University of Manchester. I have been working closely with university colleagues to explore the themes of the exhibition and the objects in greater detail with students. Courses that have so far used the exhibition include History of Art and Social Anthropology.

Most recently, during the October half-term, the Museum was  full to the brim with visitors coming to take part in the many free activities dedicated to Chinese science and technology. During the Christmas holidays I’m sure we’ll be just as busy with our Chinese paper craft events!

To keep up to date with all of our China events do consult the Manchester Museum website (http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/whatson/)or pop in and pick up a leaflet.

I hope to  see you soon!

Stephen Terence Welsh

Curator of Living Cultures