Art Speaks Across Cultures

by Yi Mei

This exhibition marks the first cultural exchange event under a Five-Year Cooperation Framework signed between the National Museum of China and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts （VMFA） in the United States.

Art Legacy

Thanks to the generosity of Rachel Lambert Mellon who made a substantial contribution to VMFA through her donation of jewelry and objects dart personally commissioned from French-born surrealist jeweler and designer Jean Schlumberger， VMFA now holds the most comprehensive public collection by this renowned French designer—works of art marked by a dedication to perfection and beauty， dazzling imagination and clarity of vision. Unlike other designers， Schlumberger drew his greatest inspiration from flora and fauna in nature， exploring ways to unite the beauty of nature with the art of human imagination. In the process， he re-defined jewelry design in the 20th century.

“Jean Schlumbergers work is the most popular exhibition in our museum，” says Dr. Michael R. Taylor， curator at VMFA. “This is the first time that this collection has left the United States. We are honored to share these treasures with visitors to the National Museum of China. They are really more than jewelry in the sense that they show how art speaks across cultures.”

Eleven ancient Chinese personal adornments such as a hairpin， a necklace and court beads from the collection of the National Museum of China open the exhibition to foreshadow the 20th centurys glittering and charming jewelry emerging from the hands of Jean Schlumberger.

“We presented ancient Chinese jewelry featuring a variety of materials and techniques to complement Schlumbergers works，” explains Pan Qing， curator at the National Museum of China. “Jewelry-making is a time-honored tradition and an art form that has been passed down across centuries. Because of the very strong and hard material of gemstones， they can be passed down over centuries and remain the same today.”

Beyond Art

“More than jewelry， the pieces are manifestations of culture，” declares Pan. “We hope to create an East-West dialogue between Chinese artifacts and Schlumbergers works， which all express aspirations for beauty even across the distant centuries from each other.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. At a point when relations between the two countries are facing some challenges， strengthening understanding between peoples could ease the situation.

“We are presenting this joint collection of treasures to convey the message that art is a medium for conversing emotions and a tool for bridging people-to-people ties，”says Wang Chunfa， director of the National Museum of China. “Cultural exchange can deepen mutual understanding and enhance mutual trust.”

The five-year partnership agreement between the National Museum of China and VMFA aims to leverage collection exchange to enhance cultural exchange and professional development， and enable the two institutions to share best practices in all areas of museum operations.

“As museums in China and the United States， the ability to share art and collections of beautiful objects helps foster greater understanding of Chinese culture in Americans as well as Chinese understanding of American culture，” remarks Alex Nyerges， director and CEO of VWFA. “These exchange programs will bring our two peoples closer together and foster mutual understanding and appreciation that can help us cooperate better at the global level.”