THE ARTS SOCIETY THE HAGUE

Most kindly invites you to a very Special Event on

Saturday 28th September 2024 at 11.30* hrs.

Asian Bronze - 4000 Years of Beauty

At the Asian Pavilion, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
 

* meetup at the museum at 11.15.

Our first Special Event of the season will be with a touch of Asia.

A guided tour of the newly opened exhibition at the Asian Pavilion of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, followed by a seminar in collaboration with The Royal Asian Art Society of the Netherlands at the Atrium of the Rijksmuseum.

This is a unique opportunity to learn all about the beauty of Asian Bronze Art - from statues of gods to objects for both  rituals and everyday use.  No fewer than 75 masterpieces will be on display, many of these top pieces will be visiting the Netherlands for the first time ever.  These exceptional loans include objects of the Indus Valley culture of India and Pakistan, the famous Buddha from Grahi in Thailand, the great bronze bell found at Kalasan in Central Java, and two 'magic' mirrors commissioned from the artist Yamamoto Akihisa, Kyoto, Japan.

Deadline for signing-up is Tuesday, 20th August 24.

The programme is as follows:

• 11.30-12.30 - The guided tour by curator Ching-ling Wang.
• 12.30-13.45 - Lunch break [lunch is not included].
• 14.00 - Seminar with a presentation 'Masterpieces of Asian Bronze on loan to the Rijksmuseum' by Dr William Southworth, curator for South-East Asia Rijksmuseum, who will speak about the very special pieces in the exhibition.
• 15.00-ish - Coffee/Tea Break
• 15.15-ish - Followed by a presentation 'Large-scale Production of Bronze Age China:  Resource and Recycling' by Dr Liu Ruiliang, curator Early China, British Museum.  He will speak about China's bronze production:  in contrast to other parts of Bronze Age Eurasia, China devoted its major social energy into the large output of unique bronze vessels, and well-integrated the long-term Neolithic tradition of agriculture and pottery making.  New technologies such as leaded bronze alloying and piece-mould casting surfaced.  Metal recycling is associated with both economic concerns and social hierarchy.
• 16.00-ish - After the seminar drinks and nibbles will be offered to all attendees.

 
It is possible to attend only the guided tour or to attend both tour & seminar.

The cost for the guided tour is the normal fee [see below], while there's a charge of EUR 5.00 for the highly interesting seminar.  The KVVAK [Royal Asian Arts Society of the Netherlands] have most kindly allowed us [non-KVVAK-members] to participate in the seminar.

The lunch is not included.
The Café at the Rijksmuseum might be a convenient place to lunch should you decide to join the seminar.

If you have never visited the Asian Pavilion this is your chance not only to see the exhibition, but to view and surely admire the incredible collection of Asian art in its many facets.  A large part of the objects is owned by the Royal Asian Art Society of the Netherlands and is on permanent loan to the Rijksmuseum.

We have 15 places available.