Art & Imitation in China
14 October to 17 December 2006

The Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong are delighted to present this exhibition exploring the concept of imitation in Chinese art. Featuring over 200 exhibits from the private collections of members of the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and institutional contributors, many of the objects have never been on view to the public before.

China's long and unbroken cultural tradition has encouraged artists, calligraphers and craftsmen to draw on the great works of the past as inspiration for new works of art. So much so that the practice of emulating the ancients has in itself become a traditional practice, making the broad concept of 'imitation' one of the most fascinating areas of study in Chinese art. In this exhibition three definitions of imitation are explored. Firstly, imitation in the form of archaism, which began in the Song dynasty (960-1279), and reflected a reverence for, and desire to possess a utopian past. Secondly, imitation in the assimilation of motifs and designs from other cultures, which began as early as the Han dynasty (220 BCE-CE 206) with the opening up of trade routes known as the Silk Route, and continues until the present day. Finally, imitation in the re-creation of works of art in media other than that in which they were originally crafted, resulting in objects of exceptional creativity and ingenuity.

The exhibition will include ritual bronzes from the Shang period (c. 1600-c. 1050 BCE), and later archaic examples, ceramic vessels and sculpture, works of art in jade, cloisonne, glass, wood and bamboo, as well as ink and oil paintings. Contemporary art is also included to show the influence of twentieth century art on post-1989 artists.

In English, the concept of imitation tends towards the negative ranging from sincere expressions of admiration to outright plagiarism. This exhibition will draw attention to the value that Chinese artists and artisans throughout the ages have placed on identifying their work within a long tradition of continuing cultural production.

An informal press preview will take place on Thursday 12 October, between 3:00 and 4:30 pm, when the exhibition's curator Mr Anthony Hua-Tien Lin will be available to answer questions about the exhibition or provide short interviews.

A symposium on Art & Imitation will be presented at the Museum on Saturday 14 October from 2:30 to 5:30 pm in which Richard Stanley-Baker, Mayching Kao, Paul Serfaty, and Julian Thompson will explore the themes of the exhibition in relation to their own fields of expertise. This event will be conducted in English and is free and open to the public. No registration required.

A fully-illustrated catalogue of the exhibition with essays by George Fan, Mayching Kao, Rosemary Scott, Paul Serfaty, Richard Stanley-Baker and Julian Thompson will be available.

The exhibition and symposium are generously sponsored by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.