ARTS
The First Emperor Exhibit Represents A Great March Forward By The High Museum
Over 35,000 Tickets Purchased To Date; Exhibition Opens November 16
By Andrian Putra Posted Oct 1, 2008
Spectacular life size terra cotta army had been buried in 210 B.C. with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who unified China. The 8,099 terra cotta soldiers uncovered near Xian, China, in 1974, in what has been called one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
The emperor who united China’s warring states for the first time had the warriors crafted more than 2,000 years ago to protect him in the afterlife.
Now, 16 of the figures, plus a terra cotta horse and other exquisite artifacts from the emperor’s mausoleum, are scheduled to go on display at the High Museum from November 16, 2008 to April 19, 2009. High Museum’s curator David Brenneman says it’s the largest display of the Terra Cotta Warriors ever to come to the U.S.
“The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army” exhibit represents a major step forward by High Museum in its pursuit to be an international museum.
“Our efforts started way back to the Cultural Olympiad in 1996 where major arts from around the world were on display as part of the ‘Rings’ exhibit,” explains Brenneman.
In view of Atlanta’s changing demographic along with an emerging interest in China and India, High Museum is exploring ways to learn more about Asian cultures and arts. The High currently does not have its own collection of Asian art, according to Brenneman.
Through an introduction by the UPS company, High Museum officials were able to make contacts with Chinese museum officials in Beijing and Xian. “It was a bit of an experiment for us in the beginning,” said Brenneman of High’s pursuit of Asian arts.
The experiment has turned out well with over 35,000 advanced tickets sold and reserved for the First Emperor Exhibit. “This is unprecedented in the history of the museum,” said Brenneman.
Along with 16 terracotta warriors, recent discoveries featured in the upcoming exhibition are court officials, acrobats and generals, plus two half-sized bronze chariots, stone armors, and life-sized bronze water-birds.
“We are in the process of learning more of Asian arts and cultures. We hope to showcase more of it and to be able to share it with the entire communities in the southeast,” explains Brenneman.
Advance tickets for the “First Emperor” exhibit are on sale now, through the High Museum website: www.high.org. Individual ticket prices are $18 for adults; $15 for students and seniors with ID; $11 for ages 6 to 17; and free for age 5 and under. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more.
High Museum of Art members will be admitted to “The First Emperor” for free and will have special access to preview the exhibition before it opens to the public. Memberships may be purchased online at www.high.org or at the museum.