Last week I went to view the exhibition currently in situ at the World Museum in Liverpool, namely “China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors”. I wasn’t really sure what to expect so went with an open mind, fully cognizant that the exhibition had been sold out for some considerable time and thus extremely popular.
So a little background to the exhibition:- “For over 2,000 years, an underground army of life-sized terracotta warriors secretly guarded the tomb of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, until a chance discovery in 1974 unlocked the mysteries of a vanished empire.
Showcasing objects from one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries, this exhibition spans almost 1,000 years of Chinese history; from the conflicts and chaos of the Warring States period, to the achievements and legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties.
The exhibition includes a number of objects that have never been on show in the UK before including material from museums and institutes from across Shaanxi Province, excavated over the last 40 years from the Imperial Mausoleum and selected tombs.
These spectacular artifacts shed light on the Emperor’s pursuit of immortality and show how he prepared for the afterlife, as well as help us to understand more about everyday life in China more than two thousand years ago.
This exhibition was organised by National Museums Liverpool, United Kingdom and the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau and Shaanxi History Museum (Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre), People’s Republic of China.”
I have visited many museums in many countries and one thing many seem to get wrong is the idea that they should “bung as many exhibits on display as possible”. What impresses about this exhibition was the limited amount on display, and I have to say it is one of the most beautiful exhibitions I have ever been to.
The rooms are tastefully lit, not ideal for us photographers but one can understand the need for this, some of the images are breathtaking. The warriors on display are utterly magnificent and you can only stand back and admire the incredible workmanship that went into creating the figures.
Additionally there are other artifacts e.g. a golden horse, coins with Greek script, cooking pots and my personal favourite, the utterly magnificent wine jar.
What are incredibly helpful to the viewer are the various explanations and maps relating to the history and background of the Emperor and the creation of the warriors.
After about two hours I emerged into daylight from the exhibition, still trying to take in the full beauty of what I had just seen.
So, well done to the organisers and in particular those who designed and created the exhibition………..simply stunning.
Photographs © Kindadukish 2018
