Special Exhibitions of Serial Cultural Events of the 45th Anniversary of Sino-German Diplomatic Ties 2017 Held in Berlin

To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the People’s Republic of China, Germany and China will hold a series of cultural events. Under this framework, the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Berlin State Museums) will hold five special exhibitions with the theme of “China and Europe.” These exhibitions are described as wonderful, fascinating, and alluring, and items exhibited include cultural relics of the early civilization of China, portraits of the Ming and Qing dynasties of China, China-EU relations embodied by the Summer Palace of Beijing, graphic designs of modern China, and so on.

1. Graphic: Modern China’s Poster and Book Design Exhibition

Duration: March 3 to May 28, 2017

Venue: Cultural Forum: Art Library (Kulturforum, Kunstbibliothek)

A special exhibition jointly held by Art Library of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum Folkwang of Essen, German Poster Gallery

This exhibition widely introduces the rising graphic design industry of China. In the past 20 years, graphic design has comprehensively developed in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, and is being recognized by the world. Among these works, international graphic language and graphic culture have been combined, so that a unique Chinese modern style has appeared. This exhibition exhibits the posters and books designed by 50 or so designers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

2. Face to Face: Asia Meets Europe

Duration: April, 2017 to April, 2019

Venue: Cultural Forum: Museum of Decorative Arts (Kulturforum, Kunstgewerbemuseum)

A special exhibition jointly held by Museum of Decorative Arts of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and Asian Art Museum

Durham Asian Art Museum officially closed in January, 2017, in preparation for the move to Humboldt Forum. At the same time, it also tried to pick up some refined artworks of the museum, hoping to exhibit these artworks with the permanent exhibitions of the Museum of Decorative Arts. The collected items of the two museums would converse and interact with one another during the five special topics’ discussions, expounding the evolving process of material, technology, modeling and art topic. This exhibition begins in April, 2017, and will show its full exhibition in November, 2017.

3. China and Egypt: Cradles of the World

Duration: July 6 to December 3, 2017

Venue: Museum Island Berlin: Neues Museum (Museumsinsel Berlin, Neues Museum)

A special exhibition jointly held by Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and Asian Art Museum and Shanghai Museum

Both Egypt and China have thousands of years of history and civilization. In the “China and Egypt--Cradles of the World” exhibition, the treasures of Egypt and China have been exhibited together for the first time. Among the exhibits, many artifacts from China are exhibited in Europe for the first time. The time span is from 4,500 B.C. to 332 B.C. and from 332 B.C. to 313 B.C. (Ancient Greece - Ancient Rome). With a brand new angle and through the direct comparison between two ancient civilizations, this exhibition exhibits the influence of the history of mankind from this fact. Although China and Egypt are far away from each other geographically, their processes of development are worthwhile to be compared to one another.

Each of the 250 or so items exhibited at the museum has its own story, and also reflects the civilization of one period of that time. No matter whether they are daily use items or famous artworks, they are bearers of history and culture, and have become representatives of a specific area, local residents, and culture and customs. This exhibition is divided into five parts: writing, forms of ruling, beliefs and culture, funeral sacrifice, and daily life. We can even see amazing similarities between China and Egypt on some aspects of culture and art, and vice versa. The highlight of the exhibition is the Jade Burial Suit of a Chinese emperor and the multicolored mummies.

4. Perspective Exchange: China-Europe Communication Between 1669 and 1907

Duration: September 29, 2017 to January 7, 2018

Venue: Cultural Forum: Art Library (Kulturforum, Kunstbibliothek)

A special exhibition jointly held by Art Library of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and Art History Institute Florence of Max Planck Society

Through the 80 items mainly from the 18th century, this exhibition vividly shows the interaction of Chinese and European cultural communication, which has previously been rarely taken notice of. The exhibit items include etchings and photos of Beijing’s European style palaces, Chinese style chamber doors, and the ceramics made in both China and Europe. This clearly and directly explains that the profound communication between China and Europe is not only confined to art themes, but it also includes material and art craft.

5. Faces of China: Portrait Painting of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368–1912)

Duration: October 12, 2017 to January 7, 2018

Venue: Special Exhibition Room for Cultural Forum (Kulturforum, Sonderausstellungshallen)

A special exhibition held by Museum of Asian Art of Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Held in Europe for the first time, the “Faces of China: Portrait Painting of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912)” is an exhibition that specializes in introducing Chinese portrait painting art. It is Matteo Ricci the Italian missionary who brought this art form to China, and then it reached its golden time in China. Over 100 portraits exhibited during the exhibition are from the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Royal Ontario Museum of Toronto, Canada. The time span for these artworks is 350 years. The exhibition emphasizes the artworks of the Qing Dynasty, including portraits of royal families and their ancestors, heroes, literati, and women. This is said to be the largest portrait exhibition of its kind, in terms if item numbers, that will be held.