Party of MEAA Autumn Festival / Museums Week & Half-term Programme: Celebrate Halloween season by exploring some of the monsters, demons and spooky animals in East Asian traditions. Join us to make painted masks inspired by these creatures.
Akiko Wakefield Folding Cards – Friday 30 Nov 18:15 – 19:30 The Art of Gift Wrapping – Friday 7 Dec 18:15 – 19:30 Tree Decorations – Friday 14 Dec 18:15 – 19:30 Booking required, Max 10 people per workshop Get crafty in this series of workshops lead by origami instructor Akiko. Learn practical skills in (… continued)
Neil Kingham Find out how Chinese medicine works, how it is used, and discover some of the most classic Chinese medicine plants represented in the Museum collection. As part of the exhibition ‘A Quest For Wellness’ programme, Chinese medicine practitioner and author Neil Kingham will explain the thinking behind Chinese herbal medicine, and why this (… continued)
Caroline Frances-King While staying at Kunming Botanical Gardens on a Travelling Fellowship, a chance encounter with an ethnobotanist led Caroline Frances-King to spend six months painting herbs used in rural China as natural health remedies. In this illustrated talk Caroline will explain how her interest in botanical art took her to China, some of the (… continued)
Polly Tisdall Listen to the fascinating story based on a traditional tale from the Akha People in South East Asia – Dog Eats Moon. Polly will also talk about her journey sourcing traditional tales from across the region where storytelling remains an important part of everyday village life.
Tea Master Kobayashi Soukou Join us on this special event to celebrate the Star Festival – Tanabata and experience first-hand an authentic Japanese tea ceremony. Lead by Tea Master Kobayashi Soukou, who has 50 years of experience of Japanese tea ceremonies. Half-hour sessions, incl Q&A, start at: 13:00, 13:40, 14:20, 15:00, 15:40 and 16:20
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)
Snuff entered the Forbidden City in the 17th century as gifts from foreign missionaries and led to the development of the snuff bottle, a tobacco delivery system unique to China. Produced in the Imperial workshops as personal ornaments, as tokens of meritorious service, and as diplomatic presents, snuff bottles became an intrinsic part of 18th-century (… continued)
Be inspired by our wellness exhibition and join us at this family workshop to learn about the use of herbs as medicine. Create your own artwork with dried herbs and flowers and use them as a visual reminder of how herbs can support wellbeing throughout the seasons.
As we start a six-month solo exhibition by acclaimed ink artist Zhang Yanzi, the theme of wellness links the artist to the City of Bath. In this talk, Zhang Yanzi’s work is placed in the context of other masters of the genre who are re-shaping the way we see the world around us. Henrietta Tsui-Leung (… continued)
In this demonstration and talk, Yukie and Yumiko will show the art of dressing in men’s and women’s kimonos, and different ways of tying obi belts. They will also explain different styles of kimono dressing to suit appropriate occasions and social status.
Inspired by Easter and the netsuke exhibition, join us on this special story reading and explore a traditional Japanese rabbit tale.
Learn how Ikebana became established in Japan and the different styles of this special art form. Led by instructor Ai Jones, make your own flower arrangement to take home. This is a basic level workshop, no previous experience is needed. Floral material included. Please bring your own vessel (a shallow bowl larger than 6cm diameter).
(Please note: this event has been rescheduled from 3 March to 10 March) The hand fan was, and still is, part of traditional Japanese fashion. Be inspired by our netsuke exhibition and design and paint your own paper fan, led by Japanese sumi (ink) painting artist, Christine. An initial swatch of 20 practice papers is (… continued)
This event has been cancelled due to weather condition. We apologies for the inconvenience. Part of our Lunar New Year season of activities. Storyteller Polly Tisdall presents the story of the Dog – a fascinating version based on a traditional story from the Akha People in South East Asia. Polly will also talk about her (… continued)
Join us to celebrate the Year of the Dog and explore our collections in this annual Lunar New Year event. Storytelling, Lunar New Year activities, and Museum trails are all packed into one fun day for all. Free entry to the Museum and crafts activities Free Dress to Impress Exhibition Mini Tour by our Curator. (… continued)
Part of our Lunar New Year season of activities, combining the celebration of Lunar New Year and the inspiring netsuke exhibition in this family fun workshop. Join us in New Year activities to make fans, money packets, masks, and more.
Netsuke are intricately carved toggles that were worn by Japanese men during the Edo period (1615-1868). They became unfashionable around the start of the 20th century when Western clothing was gradually adopted. However, the kimono is slowly coming back into fashion. In this talk, Mamiko explores the culture of netsuke-making in modern Japan and the (… continued)
Part of our Lunar New Year season of activities. We combine the celebration of Lunar New Year and the inspiring netsuke exhibition in these workshops for adults. Join us to make origami dogs in netsuke form. Netsuke are miniature Japanese sculptures and, traditionally, a men’s fashion accessory. Materials included.
Part of our Lunar New Year season of activities. We combine the celebration of Lunar New Year and the inspiring netsuke exhibition in these workshops for adults. Join us to make origami dogs in netsuke form. Netsuke are miniature Japanese sculptures and, traditionally, a men’s fashion accessory. Materials included.
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)
Due to popluar demand in previous years, we have added one more session to our Christmas origami workshops. Visit the netsuke exhibition “Dressed to Impress” and discovery the art of Japanese men’s fashion. Work with Akiko Wakefield to make you own origami netsuke with a Christmas twist. (Booking required. Max 12 people)
Visit our netsuke exhibition ‘Dressed to Impress’ and experience Japanese culture with our fun-packed activities: family-friendly exhibition tour, kimono dressing-up, samurai paper helmet making and a Japanese Trail around the Museum’s collections. (Booking required. Max 16 people)
Visit the netsuke exhibition ‘Dressed to Impress’ and learn about some key patterns and symbolic meanings behind Japanese textile design. Mamiko Markham will explain the process of traditional Japanes dyeing katazome (kata – carving pattern, zome – printing and dye) and guide you through the process from pattern design to printing on handkerchiefs, using stencils (… continued)