Art & Art History Events
[PAST EVENT] Spring 2025 Art History Guest Event: Digital Humanities, Art History, and Museum Curation
Access & Features
- Free food
- Open to the public
Please join the Art & Art History Department for the Spring 2025 Art History Guest Speaker Event at Small Hall 110 on April 11, 4–6 PM. The event features Dr. Liu Yang, Chair of Asian Art and Curator of Chinese Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, who will deliver an in-person talk titled "Curating Ritual, Power, and Art: Reimagining China’s Past through Exhibition Design."
The talk will be followed by a panel discussion with Professor Sibel Zandi-Sayek from the Art & Art History Department, Professor Jessica Paga from the Classical Studies Department, and the Instruction and Research librarian Ms. Rachel Hogan from the William & Mary Libraries. Together with our guest speaker and discussants, we will explore the potential and challenges of applying digital methods in museum practices as well as research and pedagogy in art history.
Light refreshments with be served prior to the event and a reception will follow in the Andrews Foyer.
Abstract for the Guest Speaker's Talk:
This lecture explores the curatorial vision and innovative exhibition strategies behind Power and Beauty from China’s Last Dynasty (in collaboration with Robert Wilson) and Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes (in collaboration with Tim Yip). These groundbreaking exhibitions redefined the way ancient Chinese artifacts—ritual vessels, imperial costumes, and other artifacts—are presented, immersing visitors in their original historical and cultural contexts. By integrating theatrical design, lighting, and multimedia elements, we reinterpreted these artifacts beyond their static museum setting, evoking the grandeur of Qing aesthetics and the spiritual resonance of Bronze Age ritual practice and bronze art. Through these immersive experiences, audiences engaged with the intersection of beauty and power, gaining deeper insight into the significance of Chinese ritual traditions and the artistic refinement of dynastic rule. This lecture will reflect on the challenges and breakthroughs of curating such ambitious projects, highlighting the role of exhibition design in transforming historical appreciation and fostering new dialogues on China’s cultural heritage.
Sponsored by: Art & Art History