This autumn, the Rijksmuseum is presenting 75 works spanning 4,000 years of Asian bronze art, Asian Bronzes, from statues of gods to objects for ritual and everyday use, with a focus on the forms and techniques that are often unique to the regions in which the objects were made. Co-curated by Ching-Ling Wang, Curator of Chinese Art, the exhibition aims to use the objects to stimulate the senses and captivate the imagination in the form of sonorous bells, bright reflective mirrors, and sinuous shapes that were uniquely suited to the medium of bronze. The qualities of bronze and the ingenious methods used to cast and work it in different parts of Asia are also highlighted in the exhibition.
It also aims to underscore points of comparison and illuminate historical developments over time. While not attempting to be complete, the dual spotlight on history and material highlights the beauty of this selection of masterpieces, to reveal the different qualities of bronze exploited by artisans and artists in Asia. The exhibition is not just about the past, it also demonstrates that bronze continues to play an important role in art, religion, and everyday life in Asia today.
Rather than a geographical or chronological arrangement, the selected works are presented thematically, representing the following five categories: Material and Materiality, Casting Techniques, Holy and Religious Contexts, Qualities of Bronze, and Modern and Contemporary Asian Bronze Works.
Bronze casting found in Asia
The selection highlights the most outstanding examples of bronze casting found in Asia, from prehistoric artefacts to contemporary artworks, from India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, and Korea. Most of these works are on display in the Netherlands for the first time and more than 15 of them have never been shown in Europe before. By grouping bronzes from many different countries together under several common themes, the exhibition shows how different areas were nevertheless connected through human exchanges and to illuminate historical developments over time. This approach aims to underscore points of comparison, but also to show the unique characteristics and achievements of each production centre.
By exploring the beauty of masterpieces individually, the viewer can begin to appreciate the different qualities of bronze exploited by artisans and artists across Asia. The show also reveals the various ways in which bronze was employed to not only the appeal to the senses, but also as a presence in daily life. It is this skilled craftsmanship, combined with creative designs, that makes these intricate, technically demanding, bronze pieces resonate with the viewer and which can help connect us to their makers and users, whether 4,000 ago, or in the present.
This approach allows the exhibition to reveal the products of bronze casting from its earliest prehistoric and protohistoric origins through to modern and contemporary creations. The focus on technique underscores the mastery and skill involved in the intricate artistry of bronze statuary, while objects related to holy and religious contexts, introduce the theme of exchange, and the cultural interactions and influences that contributed to the diverse expressions of this ancient craft across the continent.
Bronze casting techniques
The first two sections exploring Asian bronzes deal with the materiality of bronze and casting techniques. Bronze is not a material that occurs naturally – it is an alloy, a mixture of metals with its base being copper, a metal used by some of the earliest civilisations. The addition of tin, sometimes combined with other metals, produces bronze. Tin, in particular is relatively rare, making bronze a precious material. Bronze is versatile because the casting process allows it to be shaped and used in thousands of different ways. However, it is also demanding: the material must be carefully mixed and heated to its melting point, cast before it solidifies, and cooled at the right rate. Finishing the piece also requires a great deal of technical knowledge, information that is often passed down from generation to generation, from master to apprentice.
Initially, techniques were developed independently throughout Asia. Travel, along with interactions through religion, trade, and even wars facilitated cultural exchange. Bronze objects travelled along these routes, spreading new styles and techniques. Each of these regions developed distinct casting methods and decorations. It is this interplay between mutual exchange and adherence to local traditions that led to the creation of extraordinary bronze works. To this day, these masterpieces bear witness to a network of flourishing interwoven cultures.
Numerous artefacts from ancient times were imbued with ritual significance, ultimately leading to the creation of expansive and large-scale religious statuary. Artisans deliberately chose to use bronze, an inherently precious material, for both ritual purposes and representations of the divine holds profound importance. Statues of the Buddha, Shiva and Vishnu, among other images, is how the idea of heaven and celestial beings and deities were often depicted in bronze on earth, the worldly realm.
Masterpieces of Asian bronzes
The third section shows masterpieces of bronze statues from across Asia. Statues of gods, grave goods, and mythical creatures all have a superhuman dimension. Bronze is ideally suited for making religious and ritual objects. The material has a rich lustre and, because it is cast, can take on almost any shape imaginable. Different regions developed their own techniques for immortalising their visions of religion in a tangible form. Bronze is also strong and durable, perfect for objects that were routinely transported, washed, and touched during rituals and religious festivals. Provided it is well preserved, the hard-wearing material will last for millennia.
The next galleries of Asian bronzes focus on different senses: taste, visual, hearing, and touch. Bronze is for example ideally suited for producing sound, whether for signalling or music. Some of the instruments were crafted to summon large groups of people, for instance to temple ceremonies and battles, or even to conjure up rain. Another example is the use of bronze weapons. The weapons and tools on display were created long before iron versions became widely adopted. The logical choice would be bronze, as the metal is easily shaped, strong, and can be sharpened to a razor’s edge. For centuries, the outcome of battles largely depended on the number of bronze weapons a military force possessed. However, practical utility was not always the sole consideration: bronze weapons often took on spectacular forms, to reflect the glory of the owner and their armies.
The last section of Asian bronzes shows two contemporary Japanese magic mirrors, recognised as invisible cultural heritage in Japan. Mirrors in ancient Japan represented truth because they merely reflected what was shown, and were objects of mystique and reverence.
The exhibition is showing work from six museums in various Asian countries. The National Museum in Bangkok, has loaned six works, including Buddha under Naga’s hood, which is leaving Thailand for the first time since it was cast in the 12th or 13th century. Works also come from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Bangkok. Other loans come from India, the National Museum, New Delhi, and the Bihar Museum, Patna. Other museums include the Museum Sonobudoyo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and the National Museum in Karachi. In addition to the artworks from Asian museums, the exhibition features masterpieces from collections in Europe and the US, including a wine vessel in the form of an elephant (China, Shang dynasty, 18th-11th century BC) from the Musée Guimet, Paris, and the figure of Yashoda with the Infant Krishna (India, 12th century) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The exhibition also presents several works from the Rijksmuseum’s own Asian collection, including Shiva Nataraja (India, 12th century) and the recently acquired statue of Guhyasamaya Aksobhya (Tibet, 15th century), which will be on view for the first time.
From 27 September 2024 to 12 January 2025, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, rijksmuseum.nl
A symposium on Asian Bronzes will be held at the museum in January 2025
