Visual Arts

Exotic lion dancers, the sweet sounds of the zither and a very important Chinese visitor will help launch a major exhibition of Chinese culture at Lotherton Hall on Friday 6 June 2008.

Chinese vice-consul general, Shutong Wang - and his wife Hu Fugen - will join the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Frank Robinson, along with his wife Sheila, the Lady Mayoress, to officially open the displays, before the exhibition opens to the public a day later.

Colourful costumes from the orient

The six-month show in the hall's Edwardian rooms and costume galleries is part of the China in Yorkshire celebration and will run alongside festivities for the Beijing Olympics. The exhibition will feature traditional textiles and costumes as well as ceramics, sculpture, jades and ivories from the city’s Chinese and Chinoiserie collections.

Local Chinese talent from within Yorkshire will be celebrated at the opening event, which will feature traditional zither music by the Lau sisters from Leeds - 15-year-old She Yang and Suzanne, aged 12. There will also be a spectacular show from the Sheffield Lion Dancers.

Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Frank Robinson, said:
"This is going to be a fantastic event to launch what is going to be a wonderful exhibition. Our museums staff have pulled out all the stops with the local Chinese community to put on what are extremely high-quality, fascinating displays. Interest in China and its people and culture is going to grow more and more over the coming months with the forthcoming Olympics In Beijing, so pay a visit while you can."

The Leeds Chinese Community have been working with Antonia Lovelace from Leeds Museums and Galleries for more than a year to put this exhibition programme together. Special help and support has been given by the Chinese Elders and the Chinese Women’s Group, who have been working with photographer Yan Preston.

Many of these photos and others from the community, together with loans of precious objects from them, are included within the exhibition. A full programme of events is also being provided, from kite-making and calligraphy to storytelling and puppet performances, at Lotherton and at Leeds Central Library. It is part of the China in Yorkshire regional arts and cultural festival - for further information go to:

China Treasures runs at Lotherton Hall, near Aberford from Saturday 7 June until Wednesday 31 December 2008.