Porcelain Portraits: Celebrating Ancient Chinese Women's Lives through Art

In celebration of International Women's Day, a unique exhibition featuring eighty porceln artworks has opened at the West Lake Gallery. Running until May 7th and presented in collaboration with two museums, this special event offers a comprehensive look into the lives of ancient Chinese women through an impressive display that showcases ceramic screens, vases, and bowls adorned with images representing female immortals, historical figures, and ordinary women from past times.

The exhibition is divided into three segments, each offering visitors insights into different aspects of women's lives across dynasties. The first segment introduces viewers to the porceln art inspired by female immortals like Chang'e, Luo Shen, and He Xiangu – these patterns reflect a timeless quest for beauty in Chinese folklore. For instance, a ceramic screen loaned from the Jiangxi Province Museum presents the iconic figure of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, standing on auspicious clouds, capturing her image as a powerful and beautiful woman that ancient people revered.

Luo Shen, the deity of the Luohe River, is depicted with flowing ribbons and robes in flight or standing on water surfaces. A vase from the Jingdezhen Porceln Museum showcases this goddess holding a fan or lotus flower, further emphasizing her ethereal appearance as she floats above rivers.

Moving on to the second segment, historical figures and literary characters come alive through porceln patterns, embodying ancient societies' admiration for brave heroines. Hua Mulan's story serves as - the legary woman warrior disguised herself as a man to fight in place of her elderly father, achieving great merit without expecting any reward. This part also features a colorful bowl displaying her victorious return.

The final segment showcases everyday women from ancient times, providing insights into societal norms that severely constrned their spiritual and emotional lives under male dominance. Porcelns with patterns of infants and mothers are common here, reflecting the encouragement for early childbirth in feudal societies where women's roles were confined to domestic duties.

From the Qing Dynasty onwards, a shift towards more liberal attitudes among some families allowed daughters and wives access to education, promoting self-awareness exploration. A vase fired late in this era depicts women engrossed in reading, a symbol of changing societal norms through dynastic times.

Throughout the exhibition, artworks loaned from museums such as Jiangxi Province Museum, Jingdezhen Porceln Museum, and others offer an array of porceln pieces that vividly depict the complex lives and influences of women across Chinese history.

Exhibition Information:

Date: Runs until May 7th, closed on Mondays

Venue: West Lake Gallery

Address: No.25 Gushan Rd

The exhibition is a celebration of International Women's Day that presents an array of porceln artworks in three distinct segments to offer visitors profound insights into the lives and roles of ancient Chinese women across dynasties.

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