Lacquer is fascinating. The material protects, preserves, and embellishes, revealing its unique aesthetic power. The soft glow of its silky surface is at once serene and striking. In China, this material was elevated to an art form in the distant past. Works of extraordinary intricacy have been created over millennia, perfectly melding exceptional craftsmanship and deep cultural significance.

Red – Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquerware at Museum Rietberg invites visitors to delve into this world. The exhibition brings together exceptional objects impressive not only for their technical skill but also for their nuanced symbolism. Flowers and birds represent harmony and beauty while dragons and phoenixes stand for power and happiness. Bats and insects embody good fortune. These images reveal the full breadth of imagination in Chinese culture.

The exhibition brings together exceptional objects impressive not only for their technical skill but also for their nuanced symbolism. Flowers and birds represent harmony and beauty while dragons and phoenixes stand for power and happiness. Bats and insects embody good fortune. These images reveal the full breadth of imagination in Chinese culture.

Red – Masterpieces of Chinese Lacquerware at Museum Rietberg offers many ways of understanding this ancient art. Here, one can experience lacquer firsthand as a material while also appreciating the exquisite craftsmanship involved in its creation and its cultural significance. The exhibition invites visitors to discover anew its beauty, precision, and symbolic meaning. In cooperation with the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, Münster, Germany.

For more information please visit the Museum Rietberg website.

Tagged 23/07/26.