Wednesday, July 15, 2015

China Exhibition Extended through September 7 at Metropolitan Museum

 China: Through the Looking Glass at The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been extended by three weeks through Labor Day, September 7. The exhibition, organized by The Costume Institute in collaboration with the Department of Asian Art, opened to the public on May 7, and has drawn more than 350,000 visitors in its first eight weeks. 

Encompassing approximately 30,000 square feet in 16 separate galleries in the Museum’s Chinese and Egyptian Galleries and Anna Wintour Costume Center, it is The Costume Institute’s largest special exhibition ever, and also one of the Museum’s largest. With gallery space three times the size of a typical Costume Institute major spring show, China has accommodated large numbers of visitors without lines.  

“This exhibition is one of the most ambitious ever mounted by the Met, and I want as many people as possible to be able see it,” said Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of the Met. “It is a show that represents an extraordinary collaboration across the Museum, resulting in a fantastic exploration of China's impact on creativity over centuries.

To date, the exhibition’s attendance is pacing close to that of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011), which was the most visited Costume Institute exhibition ever, as well as the Met’s eighth most popular.  

Museum Members will have early morning private access to the galleries from Wednesday, July 22, to Sunday, July 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., before the Museum opens to the public.

The exhibition explores the impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries. High fashion is juxtaposed with Chinese costumes, paintings, porcelains, and other art, including films, to reveal enchanting reflections of Chinese imagery. The exhibition, which was originally set to close on August 16, is curated by Andrew Bolton. Wong Kar Wai is artistic director and Nathan Crowley served as production designer.

The exhibition is made possible by Yahoo. Additional support is provided by Condé Nast and several Chinese donors.

I was happy to visit parts of the exhibit I missed during the press preview. It really is a most wonderful exhibit, so much to take in. 



This was just breathtaking and I needed to see it since I missed it the last time. 








This was just absolutely amazing in person. The detail and colors blew my mind! From the fashion house Balenciaga, evening dress of white silk dupioni embroidered with polychrome silk floral motifs, 1962. 

Another creation from Balenciaga 


Alexander McQueen, Autumn 2006 



The one to the left American 1780-85 yellow silk taffeta hand-painted with polychrome floral motifs 
The one to the right French 1780 white silk taffeta hand painted with polychrome floral motifs 
Both of these gowns are just absolutely stunning 


You can view my first posts of the exhibit if you missed it HERE and HERE

China: Through the Looking Glass on exhibit until September 7, 2015
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Location: Chinese Galleries, Egyptian Galleries, and the Anna Wintour Costume Center


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