Past Exhibitions

"Chronicles of Hunan" - A Grand Joint Exhibition of Local Chronicles and Cultural Relics No.2 Special Exhibition Hall, 1F 2024.11.19 - 2024.12.22 Hunan, one of the significant cradles of Chinese civilization, boasts a long history and a splendid culture. On this land full of legends, it has witnessed innumerable hardships and glories. Local chronicles are the witnesses of history and the carriers of cultural inheritance. They bear the memories and wisdom of countless years and engrave people's lives and beliefs. When opening the pages of the local chronicles, it is as if the ripples of time are set in motion, and thus the story of Hunan unfolds. This exhibition showcases over 200 pieces (sets) of precious ancient local chronicles, cultural relics collected by the Hunan Museum, the Hunan Library, the Hunan Cultural Center and various museum and cultural institutions across and beyond Hunan. These exhibits cover a wide range of categories such as paintings, calligraphy, bronze wares, ceramics, jades, embroideries and so on. Among them, there are more than 130 pieces (sets) of cultural relics from the Hunan Museum, over 80 pieces (sets) of exhibits from the Hunan Library, and more than 30 pieces (sets) of borrowed cultural relics from within and outside Hunan. The exhibition is divided into seven sections, namely "Chronicles" Linking the Past and Present, "Chronicles" on the Evolution of Administrative Regions, "Chronicles" on Astronomy and Geography, "Chronicles" on Customs and Local Products, "Chronicles" on Ethnic Integration, "Chronicles" on Cultural Heritage and Prominent Figures, and "Chronicles" Reflecting Hunan. In accordance with the style of ancient Chinese local chronicles, it comprehensively showcases "Hunan" in the local chronicles to the audience. This exhibition innovatively combines local chronicles of different dynasties with relevant cultural relics and physical materials in depth, tracing the historical changes of Hunan from ancient times to the present and narrating the stories of Hunan in local chronicles to the audience. Each cultural relic is like a piece of history that has been sealed away, waiting for the audience to decipher its story, while local chronicles are like keys that open the doors to these stories. Through local chronicles, people can read the stories of Hunan, through cultural relics, they can witness the stories of Hunan, through the exhibition, profound historical wisdom can be passed on to every audience.	West Meets East:Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud’s Photography No.3 Special Exhibition Hall, 3F 2024.09.26 - 2024.12.10 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France and the "China-France Year of Cultural Tourism". On this significant celebratory year, the Hunan Museum, in collaboration with the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, will hold the West Meets East:Retrospective Exhibition of Marc Riboud’s Photography in the special exhibition hall on the third floor of the Hunan Museum from September 26 to December 10, this exhibition is free to the public. This exhibition is organized by the Hunan Museum and the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, co-organized by the Association Les amis de Marc Riboud, Ambassade de France en Chine and Institut francais de Chine. This exhibition is also an important visual art project of the "2024 Croisements Festival-Special Presentation for the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and France". This exhibition selects 118 pieces/sets of classic photographic works by Marc Riboud from the collection of the Musee National des Arts Asiatiques- Guimet, including the valuable photos taken by Marc during his more than 20-times visits to China from 1957 to 2010. With Marc’s acute instinct, unique artistic insight and abundant photographic language, he captured the real pictures of various classes of Chinese society, and objectively introduced the huge transformation of history and society in China from 1950s to 2010 to the West. Marc’s photographic works not only have extremely high artistic value but also monumental historical significance. His works have witnessed great historical changes in China, many classic moments have become the epitome of China in the 20th century. As Marc Riboud said, "The countries I love are like my friends. I like to see them again and understand their development and changes. Therefore, I often return to China. Everything here is developing faster than in other places. Even a careful person can see the eternity of things under this restless appearance."	The Pure Heart of Art, The Nostalgia in Ink -- Exhibition of Su Gaoyu's Works No.3 Special Exhibition Hall, 3F 2024.08.17 - 2024.09.10 The Hunan Museum will hold the exhibition “ The Pure Heart of Art, The Nostalgia in Ink -- Exhibition of Su Gaoyu's Works” in the Special Exhibition Hall on the third floor from August 17, 2024 to September 10. The exhibition was jointly hosted by the Hunan Museum, the Hunan Artists Association, the Hunan Provincial Painting Academy, and co-organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Xiangxi Prefecture Committee. The exhibition has selected more than 100 pieces (sets) of Su Gao Yu's works, covering Su's creative process of more than 40 years. It is a retrospective exhibition on stage-by-stage summary.To prominently showcase Su's artistic styles and creative concepts in different periods, this exhibition selected Su’s representative works from each period so that the audience can have a profound comparison when viewing. The curatorial team communicated and coordinated with Su himself many times during the preparation of the exhibition. As the works themselves are mainly expressive freehand painting themed on flower-and-bird, considering the limitation of the exhibition area, in order to maximize the presentation of the characteristics of the works themselves, this exhibition still broke the museum's conventional curatorial method of using time clues as the vein, and eliminated the unit descriptions, so as to allow the works themselves to go to the audience for a dialogue. In terms of the flow of visitors, the form designer, in accordance with the characteristics of the area itself, did not borrow too much from the exhibition wall to set up a diversion area, but took the audience's point of sight as the core, and created a visiting atmosphere in line with the tone of the works step by step. Despite the absence of large-scale thematic works, the expressive freehand paintings themed on flower-and-bird reveal a vast world within small details. The exhibition strives to foster innovation in contemporary Chinese freehand paintings themed on flower-and-bird and encourage a deeper understanding and preservation of China's rich cultural heritage.
She Walks in Beauty: Women of the Han Dynasty and Rome Empire No.2 Special Exhibition Hall, 1F 2024.06.15 - 2024.10.07 As two great civilizations that shine in the East and the West, the Han Dynasty and Rome have reshaped the ancient society structurally. During this prosperous period, the life picture of women has also presented a new look. They, with wisdom and ingenuity, weave a bridge connecting the two civilizations with their fingers; they overthrow stereotypes, challenge new roles in various fields, and shape new traditions; they are full of energy, light up the extraordinary in the ordinary, and look for the lovely serendipity in the world. This exhibition focuses on women in the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire, which rose in the East and the West after the Axial Age, and takes the three main scenes of women's lives, such as family life, emotional life and social life, as the context. Through more than 200 exhibits (sets), the rich spiritual world and female power are presented with real objects, and the female in cultural relics are brought back to the historical society, politics and culture, which they belong to, reveal the disappointed female narratives in history, and reflect the general picture of women's life and social roles in the era of the prosperity of Eastern and Western cultures. "Who comes to mind? She walks in beauty". At this moment, as history and reality communicate, let us walk into the lives of ancient women under the glory of the empire, find the vivid personality and mission of the times they are endowed with, feel the style of women in the Han Dynasty and Rome, and appreciate the infinite charm of ancient civilization.	The Flavor of Hunan Ⅱ Art Hall, 1F 2024.02.03 - 2024.03.17 “The Flavor of Hunan Ⅱ” delves into the cultural artifacts related to liquor in the Hunan Museum. It combines local liquor customs, liquor culture, and liquor brands of Hunan Province. Through three perspectives — historical humanities, geographical conditions, and liquor customs — it interprets the profound history and tradition of Hunan liquor, its rich artisan culture, abundant revolutionary history, diverse cultural heritage, and intangible cultural legacy. The exhibition is divided into four major sections, including "Liquor Culture in Hunan Museum" "Brewing Fine Liquor in Hunan" "Brewing Techniques," and "Fragrant Bistro". Through a sensory experience that engages sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, it guides the audience to appreciate the charm of Hunan liquor culture.	Youth is Meant for Striving: An Exhibition of Youthful Mao Zedong’s Cultural Relics Themed Exhibition Hall, 3F 2024.01.30 - 2025.01.30 Over the past century, with every forward stride of the era, the figure of the youth has been reflected, promoting the victory with their beliefs, suppressing the turbulence through diligence, and composing the anthem of the times with their youth. Youthful Mao Zedong harbored lofty ideals, sought knowledge, tempered revolutionary skills, pursued truth, courageously undertook the mission of national rejuvenation, and harmonized knowledge with action, awakening the masses of workers and peasants. Confronting difficulties directly, he dared to struggle and advocated for striving. This exhibition, centered around time, carefully selects over 150 exhibits from the Hunan Museum, Changsha Museum, Mao Zedong and the First Normal School Memorial Hall, and Hunan Provincial Archives. It showcases the journey of young Mao Zedong from studying at the normal school to leading the movements of workers and peasants, narrating his exemplary influence in cultivating moral character, establishing lofty ideals, loving the great motherland, and shouldering the responsibilities of his era.