Birding in Asian Art

1 October 2018–23 February 2020

Exhibition Overview

Phoenix Futon Cover, Japan, Showa Period (1926–1989). Cotton, yuzenresist-dyed indigo. Purchase 1983 Thomas L. Raymond Bequest Fund 83.91.

Learning to look closely is essential not only to the appreciation of art but also the sport and science of birding—sighting live birds in the wild. This exhibition features more than 100 works of art that showcase various fowl—actual and mythical—in the paintings and sculptures of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Tibet.

In addition to divulging the rich cultural significances of our feathered friends, the exhibition unlocks identification of various species and their affiliated habitats. Visit the Museum for an indoor safari to discover more than 300 birds portrayed throughout the galleries.

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