From Album of the Yongzheng Emperor in Costumes, by anonymous court artists, Yongzheng period (1723—35). One of 14 album leaves, colour on silk. The Palace Museum, Beijing
China Turns London Red
China: The Three Emperors, 1662–1795
On the evening of Tuesday 8 November 2005, a number of London’s iconic landmarks will turn red to celebrate the opening of the Royal Academy of Arts’ ‘once in a lifetime’ exhibition, China: The Three Emperors, 1662—1795.
For the star-studded Opening Reception, Piccadilly’s Burlington House, home of the Royal Academy of Arts, will be transformed with oriental decorations and red courtyard fountains while elsewhere across London specialist lighting will turn a number of other well-known landmarks red for the night: including Somerset House and British Airways London Eye.
During the opening week of the exhibition there will also be a series of special events at The British Museum, Olympia, Christie’s, Bonhams, Sotheby’s and SOAS, focusing on the themes of the exhibition. (see Notes to Editors).
The Royal Academy’s exhibition, China: The Three Emperors, 1662—1795, (12 November 2005—17 April 2006) will present imperial treasures of the Qing dynasty. Drawn largely from the remarkable collections of the Palace Museum, Beijing, it will focus on the artistic and cultural riches of the three most powerful emperors of China’s last dynasty: The Kangxi Emperor (1662—1722), The Yongzheng Emperor (1723—35) and The Qianlong Emperor (1736—95). Some 400 works will include such treasures as paintings and painted scrolls, jades and bronzes, porcelain and lacquer ware, precious robes, palace furnishings, scientific instruments, weapons and ceremonial armour. Many of these unique objects have never been shown outside China.
Dame Jessica Rawson, Chief Curator said: “Great exhibitions at the Royal Academy in 1935 and 1973 showed that the British have always been fascinated by China. However, this exhibition comes at a different time; at no other moment in history has there been such an explosion of interest in China. This show is emblematic of an extraordinary moment in Britain’s continuing relationship with China.”
The exhibition also forms a major part of China in London 2006, a season of events and activities taking place from January – March, which will celebrate Chinese arts and culture and the historic links between the capital and China.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: ‘The next few months will offer Londoners and visitors to the capital an unparalleled opportunity to experience the richness of Chinese culture right here in the city. Turning some of the capital’s iconic buildings red is a fantastic way to mark the opening of the Three Emperors exhibition, which will be a key part of the China in London 2006 season.’
Press Enquiries
For further press information on the opening celebrations please contact Olivia Wareham at Bolton & Quinn Ltd T: 0207 221 5000 F: 0207 221 8100 E: olivia@boltonquinn.com
For press information about the exhibition or images please contact Jane Eggleton at the Royal Academy of Arts Press Office T:020 7300 5614/8041 F:020 7300 8032
E: press.office@royalacademy.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Events to celebrate China: The Three Emperors during the week of 7 November:
British Airways London Eye
The British Airways London Eye will turn red on the night of 8 November. At 135m, it is the world’s largest observation wheel and has won over 40 awards for national and international tourism, outstanding architectural quality and engineering achievement.
The British Museum (Wednesday 9 November)
‘The Three Emperors, Patrons of the Arts’ A talk by Carol Michaelson
The British Museum’s extensive collection of Chinese antiquities, paintings and porcelain are among the most important held in the West.
Christie’s (8, 10, 11 November)
Specialist auctions of Chinese ceramics, textiles and works of art.
MAC Cosmetics
Launching a new range of superbly decorated Chinese gift boxes around their ranges of red lipsticks, including Ruby Woo.
Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fair (Wednesday 9 November)
Silks of Imperial China, an illustrated talk by Jacqueline Simcox on decorated silks for court costumes, palaces furnishings and luxuries of court life from the Qing Dynasty.
Shanghai Tang
The international lifestyle brand will launch its ‘Forbidden City’ Autumn/Winter 2005 Imperial Tailoring collection with designs inspired by the sumptuous decorations of the Qing Dynasty, including those from the Kangxi and Qianlong emperors. The piece de resistance of the collection is a full-length shearling coat, encrusted with over 90,000 pieces of Swarovski crystals and decorated with the image of a dragon, a symbol of supreme power in the Chinese Imperial Court. Shanghai Tang will turn the window displays of its store on Sloane Street red for the week of 7 November.
SOAS
‘Intoxicating forms: Chinese Wine and Tea Vessels of the Song to Qing Dynasties’
‘Chinese Connoisseurship: Ceramic Commentary in Collectors’ Manuals of the Ming and Qing Dynasties’
Somerset House
Somerset House will turn red on the night of 8 November, and a special collection of Chinese artefacts and English and European works influenced by Chinese motifs will be on show at the Gilbert Collection. (7 November 2005 – 24 February 2006) Somerset House has special links with China. Its architect Sir William Chambers (1723-1796), who had joined the Swedish East India Company as a youth, visited Canton twice. After he turned to architecture, he put this experience to good effect in his first book ‘Designs for Chinese Buildings’ published in London in 1757 and it was he who designed the pagoda at Kew Gardens.
Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook is launching new itineraries to Shanghai and Beijing, with special offers on fully escorted tours and individual tailor-made trips.
