A new exhibition exploring contemporary Chinese artworks opened at London's famous Victoria and Albert Museum, showcasing both China's traditional and modern practices in textiles, sculpture, and ceramics.
The event, "Dimensions: Contemporary Chinese Studio Crafts," which opened to the public on Oct 28, marks the first major exhibition dedicated solely to contemporary Chinese studio crafts. The artists have re-imagined traditional practices to find new avenues of artistic expression.
It represents five-years of dedicated efforts by its curator, Li Xiaoxin, who traveled across China to assemble the collection. It is now displayed alongside the museum’s permanent holdings of historic artifacts.
"I want people to come into the museum, not just thinking [about] China being a culture that is in the distant past and that China's objects were only brilliant in the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) period, but I want them to see the latest developments, the very creative works that keep coming out [of] China," said Li.
One of the most striking pieces, She's Bestowed Love, is a monumental textile sculpture. Its creator drew on the intricate tie-dye practices she learned when living with the Bai ethnic minority in Yunnan province, southwest China. She said the piece represents the untold sacrifices of women.
"This one is about love, like women's warmest love and blood. My memory is [about] my family, my mom, my grandma, [and] they gave me a lot of love for me," said Lin Fanglu, textile designer and the LOEWE Collection Craft Prize Winner.
This philosophy underpins Li's curatorial vision -- connecting the Victoria and Albert Museum's new acquisitions to the centuries-old legacy of Chinese ceramics.
"There's a lot, particularly in the modern [time], there's lots and lots of possibilities. Not only [you] make a bowl or jug or plate, one can do everything, almost everything," said Qu Leilei, a Chinese artist.
The exhibition is also designed to appeal to diverse audiences. The upper shelf of the cabinet showcases sophisticated works by master artisans, which are highly prized by traditional collectors, while the lower shelf features creations by younger artists.
"Their works are more appealing to the young generation of people who are not necessarily collectors, but they are interested in individual design, hand-made objects. So it's a very different way of craft collecting," said Li.
The exhibition will run through Sept 17, 2026.
Museum in London showcases blend of China's traditional, modern art
