Rijksmuseum’s major autumn exhibition, Asian Bronze. 4,000 years of beauty, will be the first-ever major international exhibition of Asian bronze as a unified subject.
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore connecting themes in the bronze art of Asia through 75 masterworks chosen from prehistoric artefacts to contemporary artworks, from India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal and Korea. Most of these works are on display in the Netherlands for the first time and more than 15 of them have never been shown in Europe before. Statues of the Buddha, Shiva and Vishnu, among other images, impressively show how heaven was often depicted in bronze on earth. All the senses are stimulated by bronze mirrors, weapons, bells, wine vessels and incense burners, often spectacularly depicted in the shape of lions, elephants or mythical creatures. The exhibition runs from September 27, 2024, to January 12, 2025, in the Rijksmuseum.
Never before has the Rijksmuseum collaborated with Asian countries on such a large scale. We are grateful that we can show many unique masterpieces in Europe for the first time. The skill and creativity of the ancient artisans inspires deep admiration for their unparalleled artistic talent.
– Taco Dibbits, General Director Rijksmuseum
SIX MUSEUMS IN ASIA
The exhibition features works from six museums in various Asian countries. The National Museum in Bangkok, for example, has loaned six works, including Buddha under Naga’s hood, which is leaving Thailand for the first time since it was cast in the 12th or 13th century. Works will also come from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Bangkok. Other loans come from India (National Museum, New Delhi; Bihar Museum, Patna), Indonesia (Museum Sonobudoyo, Yogyakarta) and Pakistan (National Museum, Karachi).
FAMOUS COLLECTIONS
In addition to the artworks from Asian museums, the exhibition features masterpieces from collections in Europe and the United States. These exhibits include a wine vessel in the form of an elephant (China, Shang dynasty, 18th-11th century BCE) from the Musée Guimet, Paris, and the figure of Yashoda with the Infant Krishna (India, 12th century CE) from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The exhibition also presents several works from the Rijksmuseum’s own Asian collection, including Shiva Nataraja (India, 12th century CE) and the recently acquired statue of Guhyasamaya Akshobhya (Tibet, 15th century CE), which will be on view for the first time.
Dutch designer Aldo Bakker (1971) designs the exhibition. He previously designed the exhibition Small Wonders in the Rijksmuseum. Irma Boom is responsible for the graphic design.
Asian Bronze. 4,000 years of beauty, 27th September 2024 – 12th January 2025, the Rijksmuseum
A symposium on Asian bronzes will be held in the Rijksmuseum on 9th and 10th January 2025.
Asian Bronze. 4000 Years of Beauty is made possible in part by the Bagri Foundation and the Friends of the Rijksmuseum.
A book is being released to accompany Asian Bronze. 4000 Years of Beauty, written by the curators of the exhibition. Dutch and English language versions available. Price €35. Dutch version, ISBN 978-94-6208-885-6; English version, ISBN 978-94-6208-886-3.
