Translucent World is a unique presentation of Chinese jade from the outstanding collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing. The exhibition features the manifold uses of jade to depict nature. Often natural forms are used to symbolise the various popular ideas concerning human beliefs and emotions. The group of more than 180 works is representative of all periods of Chinese jade carving, from Neolithic times to the Qing dynasty. It illustrates the different uses of this most precious stone and the variety of carving techniques used across history. The key object is a marvellous carved jade mountain over one metre high depicting The Nine Elders of Huichang, commissioned by the Emperor Qianlong in 1787.

Images:
Jade mountain with a scene of the Nine Elders of Huichang (detail) Qing dynasty, Quanlong period (1736-95)
Covered vessel with four butterfly-shaped handles Qing dynasty, Quanlong period (1736-95)
Pendant in the shape of cranes among clouds early Song dynasty (960-1279)
Water pot in the shape of a duck mid Qing dynasty, 18th C

Education programs

Teachers holiday workshop
Romancing the stone
Friday 12 October 2007, 2 - 4.30pm
Tour through the exhibition with our gallery educators, discuss the works of art and experiment with a range of art processes and materials to develop ideas for the classroom.
$35, $30 for AGS members and tertiary students - includes afternoon tea and cross-curricular education material

Video

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