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The interplay between Chinese and Western ceramics

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The Friends of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum extend an invite to residents to attend a Public Lecture by Dr Melanie Hillebrand, Director of the Art Museum, when she reflects on Chinese ceramics which have played a pivotal role in the colonisation by Europeans of southern Africa and yet most South Africans remain ignorant of the long and fascinating history behind China’s relationship with the West, and ultimately, Africa.

The merchants of the Silk Road and, later, the Dutch East India Company were instrumental in popularizing Chinese porcelain and stoneware in the West. European artists and designers have been responding creatively to Chinese ceramics since the first examples reached Europe in the 14th century.

The long history of Chinese ceramics and the enormous volume of items produced have also had an impact on contemporary Chinese art, especially since the ending of the Cultural Revolution and China’s recent meteoric economic boom. Artists such as Ah Xian and Ai Weiwei are two internationally-recognised figures who have chosen ceramics as their preferred medium.

  • Date: Thursday, 18 October 2012
  • Time: 17h30
  • Venue: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, Lorimer Hall, 1 Park Drive, Port Elizabeth
  • Entrance and refreshments: Free
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NMB Communications

Media Communications at Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Communications Department is responsible for communicating pertinent Municipal news from Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch. Municipality Contact Details. See more articles by NMB Communication's.