Newsletter No. 25

Behin d the Sc A look at how Art ( Twentieth Anniversary of the Art Gallery IreneChou THE HERMIT 1985 Established in September1971, the University Art Gallery has just celebratedits 20th anniversary. Over theyears, the Art Gallery has attracted innumerable visitors to the many exhibitions it has staged, covering various aspectsof Chinese art. Previous exhibitions have included pottery and porcelain, painting and calligraphy, bronzes, lacquerware, jade carvings and unearthed relics. Weare fortunate enough to be able to enjoy these exhibitions of pricelessantiques and exquisite works of art virtually all year round, but how many of us stop to wonder exactly how such exhibitions are organized and managed,or how the beautiful pieces are acquired and preserved? Two Types of Exhibitions Art Gallery exhibitions can basically be divided into two categories: special exhibitions, and exhibitions of Art Gallery collections. Before 1988, there was only enough space in the Art Gallery to hold one type of exhibition at a time, so special exhibitions alternated with displays of exhibits selected from the resident collection of the gallery. With the completion of a new extension to the gallery three years ago, the new wing (east wing) has been used permanently for mounting exhibitions of Art Gallery collections, exhibits of which are changed twice a year, in March and September. The old wing (west wing) has been reserved exclusively for mounting special exhibitions, which usually number around five or six a year. Some of these are organized in collaboration with the museums in mainland China and with local collectors, others compri displays of the most recent acquisitions of the Art Gallery. Major Considerations in Theme Selection 'Each exhibition theme is selected only after in-depth deliber discussion and study',says Dr. Mayching Kao, the curator. The gallery relies on a wide variety of sources to provide information 6