Stunning ancient Chinese treasures will be shown at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) alongside thought-provoking contemporary Chinese art in the latest Melbourne Winter Masterpieces blockbuster.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley visited the NGV today to preview the exhibitions that are at the centre of the gallery’s headline winter program ─ Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality and Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape.
The Terracotta Army is considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. The warriors were created to guard the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang, entombed in 210BCE, and discovered by accident only in 1974.
Terracotta Warriors brings the sculptures to be presented alongside more than 160 exquisite ancient treasures of Chinese art and design – including priceless gold, jade and bronze artefacts dating to 1046 BCE.
Visitors will also experience the works of one of the world’s most exciting contemporary artists, Cai Guo-Qiang.
Cai has worked with the NGV to create breathtaking new artworks that will intrigue visitors of all ages, including a monumental installation of 10,000 porcelain birds and paintings created by exploding gunpowder.
This is the 15th year of the Winter Masterpieces series, which sources the world’s best art and brings it exclusively to Melbourne each year to create drawcard exhibitions.
More than 6 million people have attended a Winter Masterpieces exhibition, with ticket pre-sales for Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality and Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape setting new highs.
The exhibitions will be presented alongside a program of public events that include free activities for families and the popular NGV Fridays featuring late-night music and food.
Major events like the Winter Masterpieces generate around $1.8 billion each year for Victoria and supports thousands of jobs.
The Melbourne Winter Masterpieces presentation of Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality and Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape will be on display from 24 May to 13 October at NGV International. For further information visit .
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley
“This year the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series is celebrating more than a millennium of Chinese history, from wonders of the ancient world to wonderful contemporary art.”
“These incredible exhibitions once again show why the NGV is Australia’s most popular gallery and the place to see the world’s best art.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events Martin Pakula
“Exhibitions like these are huge drawcards for Melbourne and Victoria, adding an enviable calendar of major events that contribute $1.8 billion to the Victorian visitor economy and support thousands of local jobs.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020