Another World Lies Beyond

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

NOW CLOSED

Guan Yu (detail; c. 1700), China. Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Chinese Art and the Divine

Drawn primarily from the Met’s holdings in this area, this exhibition explores how premodern artists in China visualised divinity in remarkably fluid ways. Paintings, prints and sculptures bring together deities from Buddhist, Taoist and other pantheons in a manner that reflects the exchange of ideas across boundaries of faith, culture and politics in this era. Find out more from the Met’s website.

Preview the exhibition below | View Apollo’s Art Diary here

Military door god (early 20th century), China.

Woodblock print depicting a military door god (Republic period, early 20th century), China. Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Luohans (17th–18th century), unidentified artis

Leaves from album depicting the 18 Luohans (Ming or Qing dynasty, 17th–18th century), China. Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jar with dragon and stylized character for longevity (16th century), China.

Jar with dragon and stylised character for ‘longevity’ (Ming dynasty, Jiajing period, 16th century), China. Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Guan Yu (c. 1700), China.

Hanging scroll depicting the warrior Guan Yu (Qing dynasty, c. 1700), China. Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art