We’re delighted to announce the opening of our new exhibition In Bloom on Tuesday 1 April 2025. Discover how flowers have inspired generations of artists across East and Southeast Asia through a display of floral-themed objects from the Museum’s collection, shown alongside the work of contemporary artists and makers. Experience Hiroko Imada’s cherry blossom forest (… continued)
MEAA, in partnership with The Ezen Foundation, is excited to reveal that our new exhibition will celebrate the beauty of the Japanese kimono. As one of the world’s most instantly recognisable modes of dress, the kimono 着物, which literally translates as ‘thing to wear’, is an icon of Japanese history and culture. Sometimes perceived as (… continued)
Dragons, Dragons, Dragons is a family-focused exhibition, showcasing over 50 dragon-themed objects from the Museum’s collection. Explore the stories and symbolism of dragons across China, Japan, and Korea through our family-friendly activities. Design your own dragon to hang in our ‘Dragon Gallery’; write your own dragon myth; and learn more about their history through our (… continued)
This 30th anniversary exhibition pays tribute to Brian Shane McElney OBE, who founded the Museum of East Asian Art in 1993, and who passed away on 26 April 2023 at the age of 90. Through a series of rare historical photographs, and a display of 30 treasures from the collection, this exhibition uncovers hidden stories (… continued)
The Museum of East Asian Art (MEAA) in Bath is delighted to present an exciting new exhibition Connecting Threads: Fashion Inspired by the MEAA Collection which opens on 28 June and runs until 20 December 2023. Working in partnership with the Museum, and taking inspiration from objects in the Museum’s collection, students from the Art (… continued)
The exhibition showcases a series of prints selected from Muban Educational Trust’s collection of over 6,000 and tells the story of China’s twentieth-century wars, revolution and rejuvenation. The exhibition explores artistic trends, political movements and technical developments in modern Chinese printmaking. The works presented mark several significant anniversaries in China’s modern history, including the May (… continued)
This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to view the work by Hong Kong photographer, Nancy Sheung. This is only the second time that Nancy’s work has been shown in the UK. Nancy’s work is often focused on the female and has a strong emphasis on patterns and lines. It stands out from her contemporaries in (… continued)
This exhibition showcases the award-winning and highly commended photos from the Global SinoPhoto Awards 2021. The photographs fall under four categories: ‘Home’, ‘Environment’, ‘Work & Play’ and ‘Water’, as 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger. The overall winning photo from 2020 – the inaugural year of GSPA – will be also on show.
Book your timed ticket Judo was devised by Jigorō Kanō (1860-1938) in the 1880s derived from more ancient forms of the Japanese martial arts known as jūjutsu. He described judo as ‘not a mere sport or game. I regard it as a principle of life, art and science. In fact, it is a means for (… continued)
Explores the culture of food and drink in China through a wide range of vessels made of different materials and used by various social classes over centuries.
The exquisite objects in the collection of the Museum of East Asian Art are now seen and enjoyed as wonderful works of art. However, many of them were originally utilitarian items used in daily life.
The Museum of East Asian Art’s collection of Chinese objects spans 7,000 years, from the Neolithic to modern times. We celebrate our 25th Anniversary with a special exhibition displaying the extraordinary human inventiveness and creativity in the development of Chinese art.
For Beijing-based artist Zhang Yanzi, wellness is a quest for mental and physical reassurance. From boiling herbal ingredients for an infused concoction of warmth, to drawing spiritual solace from the mysteries of the universe, our search for wellness requires medicine to be active rather than reactive. In the modern world, as we embrace the scientific (… continued)
A British Museum Partnership Exhibition This exhibition explores the intricate accessories worn by Japanese men during the Edo period (1615-1868). Netsuke are a form of Japanese miniature sculpture that were primarily functional, but evolved into an important art form. The exhibition features a selection of netsuke, chosen from over 2,300 in the British Museum’s collection, with (… continued)
This exhibition showcases some of the top favourite objects from the Museum’s collection chosen by visitors of all ages, and the Museum’s trustees, staff and volunteers. The Museum’s exquisite collections represent over 7,000 years of artistry and craftsmanship from East and South East Asia. We invite visitors to take a closer look at the objects (… continued)
MEAA is delighted to host a small selection of paintings from the Hong Ling retrospective exhibition touring Europe. The exhibition begins with early works from the late 1980s when Hong Ling completed his graduate training in western oil painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing (CAFA). In the 1990s, his work was (… continued)
For the many visitors coming to the Museum of East Asian Art, objects in the museum’s collection may appear exotic and unfamiliar. It is nevertheless possible to appreciate the beauty of foreign objects without knowing much about their history or cultural context. The Museum has worked with illustrator Chloe Regan, who graduated from the Royal (… continued)
The colour red has a strong affiliation with China and it has played an important role in Chinese culture for centuries. The colour remains significant to the Chinese today. It is the primary colour on the flag of People’s Republic of China and the colour is seen everywhere during the Lunar New Year. Most objects (… continued)
In the exhibition, the artist, Dr Koon draws inspirations from the Museum of East Asian Art’s collection and creates new works that react interesting aesthetic notions embraced by the traditional Chinese literati. Dr Koon pushes the boundaries of traditional Chinese ink painting, while immersing in the tradition of brush and ink, he also remaining open (… continued)
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath to the public. To celebrate this special occasion, the Museum is going to open a new exhibition to gratefully acknowledge the contributions and generosity of the museum’s major donors and presents some highlight pieces that have been given to (… continued)
The exhibition explores the idea of “treasure” and illustrates how objects were valued for various reasons by different groups of people. From ancient bronze vessels and weapons to imperial and export ceramics, the exhibition will showcase objects that were highly regarded by ancient Chinese states, Chinese collectors as well as people outside China.
Reflections is the first UK solo exhibition of Wu Lan-Chiann, Chinese ink painting artist. This exhibit shows a selection of Wu Lan-Chiann’s work produced over the past twenty years. Displayed in reverse chronological order in the museum’s galleries, the exhibition has three themes; early career work, dusk to dawn series, and current directions. At the core (… continued)