Numbers of Asian artists works featured

The request was successful.

Dear The Victoria and Albert Museum,

If you could please provide answers to the following. It will help the public understand the varying levels of Asian representation in our public museums/galleries.

How many Chinese mainland artists' work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively?
How many Taiwanese artists’ work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and 2021?
How many Hong Kong artists’ work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and 2021?
How many Tibetan artists’ work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and 2021?
Can you direct me to exhibitions featuring or focused on Chinese artists from 2019, 2020 and 2021?

Yours faithfully,
Flo Marks

V&A Freedom of Information, The Victoria and Albert Museum

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V&A Freedom of Information, The Victoria and Albert Museum

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Dear Flo Marks,

 

Thank you for your request for information about objects by makers from
mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet featured in displays at the
V&A in 2019-2021.  Although during this time period the museum did not
host a major exhibition focusing on these regions, works were displayed in
our permanent galleries. 

 

We have an important collection of Chinese objects ranging from archaeological
material of the 4^th millennium BCE to 21^st-century items.  Highlights from the
collection are predominantly displayed in the China Gallery, the adjacent China
Sculpture Gallery, the Ceramics Galleries and the Robert H. N. Ho Family
Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art. In 2019-2020 there was also a temporary
display entitled ‘Blanc de Chine: A Continuous Conversation’ in Gallery 145
(ceramics) and the China Gallery, showcasing both historical and contemporary
pieces by makers from a wide range of countries.

These are the number of objects in the aforementioned galleries and display
created by makers from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong. All the pieces were shown
throughout the period of 2019 - 2021 unless otherwise indicated. It is worth
mentioning that the V&A actively acquires modern and contemporary works from all
parts of Asia, but inevitably the bulk of our large collections are historic,
and this is reflected in the figures below.

China Gallery

Mainland China: 580 objects

Taiwan: 8 objects

[This number includes a textile hanging made by a Taiwanese artist while
he was based in Cumbria, UK]

Hong Kong: 7 objects

[This number includes two jewellery pieces that may have been made in
America, although the original wearer was from Hong Kong]

 

China Sculpture

Mainland China: 9 objects

 

Ceramics Galleries

Mainland China: 4085 objects

Hong Kong: 6 objects

Taiwan: 1 object

[please note that the Ceramic Galleries also include historic pieces made
in China but decorated in Europe]

 

Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art

Mainland China: 7 objects 

 

Blanc de Chine display (05/09/2019 – 10/05/2020)

Mainland China: 8 objects

Hong Kong: 7 objects

[These 7 pieces were by an artist from Hong Kong who is now based in
London. His works were made in Dehua, China]

 

Chinese objects were also displayed in other galleries that explore themes
of cultural exchange and influence and/or look at art and design in a
global context:

Himalayas and South-East Asia (4 objects)

Islamic Middle East (4 objects)

Japan (4 objects)

Medieval and Renaissance 300-1600 (6 objects)

Europe 1800-1815 (38 objects)

Britain 1500-1900 (65 objects)

Design 1900-Now (2 objects only since June 2021 after the gallery
re-opened following refurbishment)

And in galleries that focus on a particular medium

Paintings (10 objects)

Photography (2 objects)

Architecture (1 object)

Furniture (3 objects)

Silver (5 objects)

Gold, silver and mosaics (1 object)

Jewellery (1 object)

In addition, the jewellery gallery has, since May 2021, displayed a work
by a contemporary Taiwanese jewellery designer.

 

The Museum also hold a rich, but much smaller, collection from Tibet of
work dating predominantly from the 12^th-19^th century.

 

Himalayas and South-East Asia Gallery

Tibet: 37 objects

[This number includes three pieces which were made in either Tibet or
Nepal]

As well as historic pieces, the display included an important painting by
contemporary Tibetan artist Tsherin Sherpa, inspired by his visit to the
V&A's Tibetan collection. This work, which may have been created in
America, was on display in the V&A from 2019 until autumn 2021. (It is
currently on loan to an exhibition about the artist at the Virginia Museum
of Fine Art.)  

 

South Asian Sculpture

Tibet: 1 object

 

Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art

Tibet: 8 objects

[This number includes one object which was made in either Tibet or
China].]

 

In order to get a fuller picture of the objects associated with China,
Hong Kong, Taiwan or Tibet in the museum’s collections please look at V&A
collection database ‘Explore the Collection’

[1]https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections?type=f... . On this free
open-access platform, you can filter on geography to find the information
of all relevant pieces in our collections.

 

I hope that this information will be helpful to you. In accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act, the V&A does operate a complaints
procedure and if you are dissatisfied with our response to your request
you may make a complaint, in the first instance to myself as the V&A's
Freedom of Information Officer. If your complaint is not handled to your
satisfaction you also have the right to refer the matter to the
Information Commissioner.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Christopher Marsden

 

 

Christopher Marsden | Senior Archivist

V&A South Kensington | Cromwell Road | London | SW7 2RL

Email: [2][email address] | Phone: 020 7942 2319

Visit: [3]vam.ac.uk

Follow: [4]Twitter | [5]Instagram | [6]Facebook

 

 

 

We are open and ready to welcome you | Book your tickets today at
[7]vam.ac.uk

[8]vam.ac.uk

The world's leading museum of art, design and performance

This message is intended solely for the use of the individual or
organisation to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged or
confidential information.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the originator
immediately. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not use,
copy, alter, or disclose the contents of this message.
All information or opinions expressed in this message and/or any
attachments are those of the author and are not necessarily those of The
Victoria and Albert Museum or its affiliates.
The Victoria and Albert Museum accepts no responsibility for loss or
damage arising from its use, including damage from virus. Victoria and
Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL, Tel: 0207 942 2000

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Flo Marks <[9][FOI #837026 email]>
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2022 4:12 PM
To: V&A Freedom of Information <[10][The Victoria and Albert Museum request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Numbers of Asian artists works
featured

 

Dear The Victoria and Albert Museum,

If you could please provide answers to the following. It will help the
public understand the varying levels of Asian representation in our public
museums/galleries.

How many Chinese mainland artists' work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and
2021 respectively?

How many Taiwanese artists’ work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and 2021?

How many Hong Kong artists’ work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and 2021?

How many Tibetan artists’ work did you exhibit in 2019, 2020 and 2021?

Can you direct me to exhibitions featuring or focused on Chinese artists
from 2019, 2020 and 2021?

Yours faithfully,

Flo Marks

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