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Ainos of Yezu

A pair of Ainu hunters, engraving published in the 19th-century travelogue, Unbeaten Tracks in Japan by Isabella Bird

AINU CULTURE IN JAPAN

The Ainu are an indigenous people who have been living in northern Japan, especially on Hokkaido and the surrounding islands. In the past, members of this community were not able to fully express their distinct culture – a situation that caused many to fear for its long-term survival. During the 1960s and 1970s, Kayano Shigeru (1926-2006), who was born in 1926 in the small village of Nibutani, a rural village in Hokkaido’s Biratori area, was the first Ainu to sit in Japan’s parliament. He inspired a movement to celebrate, sustain, and develop this distinct and lesser-known of the Japanese cultures. Today, this movement continues to gather momentum…

 

ANGKOR COMPLEX: CAMBODIAN HISTORY

This thought-provoking exhibition considers the art of Cambodia and its diaspora through 80 works, created from the 12th century to the present day, to explore the distinct formal strategies and artistic innovations that emerged in the face of – and in response to – colonialism, significant social upheavals, war, and genocide. It features work from some of the foremost members of the modern and contemporary Cambodian art scene, including Vann Nath, Sopheap Pich, Svay Sareth, Amy Lee Sanford, and Leang Seckon, as well as significant historical works. Through architectural fragments, sculptural ensembles, paintings, lens-based media, shadow puppets, and performance pieces, the exhibition highlights the myriad ways in which artists…

 

Seated-Buddha-Abhaya-Mudra,-2012,-Bamboo,-rattan,-wire,-plywood,-252x-222x-110-cm

Seated Buddha-Abhaya Mudra (2012) by Sopheap Pich, bamboo, rattan, wire, plywood, 252 x 222 x 110 cm, courtesy of the artist and Tyler Rollins Fine Art Β© Sopheap Pich

LiPingerAgreeingToMaryJiangZhushan_front

Li Ping’er Agreeing to Marry Jiang Zhushan, China, 18th century, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), album leaf, ink and colour on silk, 39.37 x 31.75 cm, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust through the George H and Elizabeth O Davis Fund

GLAMOROUS WOMEN IN CHINESE ART

As subjects in Chinese paintings, women appear in numerous guises, from deities and mothers to court ladies and courtesans. As early as 600 BC, Chinese women’s roles in society were primarily centred within the home. By the Tang dynasty (618-907), a growing interest in the depiction of daily life in the palace led to the establishment of a new category of painting that portrayed beautiful women. Images of elegant court ladies engaged in leisure activities were especially popular – the dignified female figures ….

 

RANJIT SINGH: SIKH, WARRIOR, KING
A new exhibition in London explores the life and legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the founder of the Sikh Empire (1799-1849), and the Lion of Punjab, Sher-e-Punjab. In a period ridden with anarchy following decades of Afghan invasions, Ranjit Singh emerged as the Punjab region’s undisputed maharaja by the turn of the 19th century. Possessed with an indomitable sense of destiny, his meteoric rise to power brought about the hugely influential Sikh Empire – a kingdom that created seismic change in the region, impacting the fortunes of the Mughal and British Empires and shaping the future of the Indian subcontinent….

Turban-Fortress-dastar-bunga

Turban fortress (dastar bunga), Lahore, Punjab, mid-19th century Β© Royal Armouries, Leeds

Asian and Islamic Works of Art

AUCTIONS

The latest shows from around the world

GALLERY SHOWS
  • THE MAGIC OF EXPLORATION

    THE MAGIC OF EXPLORATION

    From biennials and triennials to art summits, fairs, and cultural tours  – countless art events now dot the globe and compete for attention and …Read More Β»
OBJECT OF THE MONTH
FROM THE ARCHIVE
  • Wang Keping

    Wang Keping

    The Rodin Museum invited Wang Keping to take over the sculpture garden as his studio during May and early June. The project is a …Read More Β»
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