High art, high society

Ancient bronze, jade and lacquer artefacts display an artistry and skill indicative of highly organized societies and provide a tantalizing glimpse into early ritual practice and belief.

The dynastic highpoints of the Han (206 BC-AD 220), Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) all produced artwork of exceptional variety and quality, and paintings, ceramics, lacquer and precious metals will all be explored in a short course at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which covers more than 4,000 years of arts in China. The interaction of people along China's borders and beyond will be examined in the context of the Silk Road, the rise of Buddhism and the introduction of a new artistic repertoire that enriched the culture of metropolitan China.

Date: Sept 24

Venue: Seminar Room 1, Sackler Center

Website: www.vam.ac.uk

(China Daily 08/17/2012 page31)