The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art opened in 1923 – consisting of the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery – and has become a bastion of preservation, exhibition and interpretation of Asian art, with a collection of more than 40,000 objects dating from the Neolithic period to today. Marking the century since its foundation, the museum organizes throughout the year a dynamic centenary celebration, with special exhibitions, new permanent exhibitions, the renovation of existing galleries and an extensive program of programming, including musical series, events and more. It is a celebration of unprecedented scale with a mission, as the museum plans to leverage this centenary “as a catalyst for its transformative vision for the century ahead: to become a premier national and global resource to understand Asian art and societies, and their intersection with America.
Installation view of “Ay-Ō’s Happy Rainbow Hell”. Courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC
The introduction of four new or relocated permanent galleries facilitates this new and expanded vision of the museum and its future. The first of these is a new introductory room showcasing “Connecting Stories”, which will open on April 29, 2023, which will welcome visitors and provide tools and context for better understanding and engagement. This summer, the museum’s first modern and contemporary gallery will open with four video exhibits, and this fall will unveil “Freer’s Global Network: Artists, Collectors, and Dealers,” an exhibit that will examine the origins and influences that shaped the museum collection.
Installation view of five Chinese bronzes (Shang dynasty, circa 1600-1050 BC) in ‘Anyang: The Ancient City of the Kings of China’. Courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC
Three main temporary exhibitions, which opened between the end of 2022 and the beginning of this year, form the cornerstones of the centenary celebrations. “A Splendid Land: Paintings of Royal Udaipur”, on view until May 14, 2023, is a large survey composed of works from the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India. Open until April next year,”Anyang: the ancient city of the kings of Chinahighlights more than 200 objects from the museum’s collection depicting the artistic achievements of the Chinese Shang Dynasty, the first exhibition of its kind in the United States. Highlighting contemporary Japanese artist Ay-Ō (b. 1931), “Ay-Ō’s Happy Rainbow Hellis the artist’s first museum exhibition in the United States, and highlights his radical and experimental practice.
Installation view of “A Splendid Land: Paintings from Royal Udaipur”. Courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC
Coinciding with the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the museum will host its first large-scale festival. The two-week festival, May 1-13, 2023, is a cornerstone of the centennial celebrations, which take place in the museum and surrounding National Mall. Along with keynote speakers, cooking events and interactive experiences, there’s also an exciting roster of star musical artists, such as K-pop star Eric Nam and R&B artist Raveena. Other main performers on the stage include Kennedy Center resident and violinist Jennifer Koh, as well as Spilling Ink, the latter presenting dances that blend contemporary and classical arts from India in and around the museum during the festival.
Spill ink. Courtesy of Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, DC
The events and exhibits as part of the Heritage Month festival as well as the overall centenary celebrations are incredibly diverse and varied (see the museum’s events page here) and provide an incredible opportunity for people of all ages to experience and learn more about the museum as well as Asian art spanning a range of cultures and across time. With the festival just around the corner and centennial celebration events beyond, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is set to continue to be one of the premier destinations and resources for art and culture. Asians.
Learn about the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art’s centennial celebrations here.
Follow Artnet News on Facebook:
Want to stay one step ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive breaking news, revealing interviews and incisive reviews that move the conversation forward.
