'China's Qi' exhibition in Tropenmuseum Junior in Amsterdam
‘Time to become Chinese for a day…’
Qi (pronounced 'chi') is the Chinese life force, or breath of life, that will be in full flow at the Tropenmuseum Junior from 9 October 2009. In ‘China's Qi’, visitors can get their own Qi flowing in a range of activities during special China tours, including cooking, kung fu, karaoke, calligraphy and by making umbrellas and terracotta soldiers. When the Qi is in full flow, visitors are capable of making miraculous leaps. Video clips of these leaps can be viewed at www.qigame.nl (from Ocotber 2009). The exhibition will open on Friday 9 October with a dragon dance and, of course, Chinese fireworks. The opening weekend from 9 to 11 October will feature a host of Chinese activities for young and old, and is free of charge for children up to 12.
Why ‘China's Qi’?
China is playing an ever-increasing role on the world stage and will be a feature of all of our lives in the years to come. So how can we gain a better understanding of this world power? Tropenmuseum Junior wanted a theme that shows evidence of modern advances without implying that China is adopting a more western outlook. The main aim of the exhibition is to enable visitors to see and experience the true essence of a China with it's flexibility through many recent changes. This is why Tropenmuseum Junior went in search of the Qi, China’s streaming energy that flows through everyone and everything. The museum aims to link the Chinese Qi with the energy of its young visitors.
Personal recollections and activities bring China a step closer
In ‘China's Qi’, there are no artefacts in glass cases and children take centre stage in the exhibition. After immersing the visitors in a dynamic China of skyscrapers and cranes, the exhibition staff (most of whom are Chinese themselves) escort them through the various rooms of the exhibition. The collection, personal recollections, moving images and activities combine to form a unified whole. Visitors can experience China's Qi by becoming actively involved in tai chi, kung fu, feng shui, calligraphy, cooking and by making Qi jumps.
A piece of China in Amsterdam
Faced with the fact that 350m² of exhibition space can never truly capture the sheer size of China, designer Daniël Ament set to work and created an exhibition in which film images, animations and sound form a part of the unique design. The images, projected onto concrete and onto the collection itself, are based on movement, change and flowing Qi. More than 500 pieces (from a dragon’s tail gemstone to a wushu sword) have already been transported to the Netherlands in a large ship for the collection. A 4.5 metre long Chinese dragon lantern is currently on its way from China to Amsterdam. Created especially for the exhibition, this huge lantern will be hung at the entrance to Tropenmuseum Junior.
Grand opening weekend with free admission for children
‘The Qi of China’ opens at 10.00 on Friday 9 October with Chinese fireworks and a dragon dance at the entrance to the Tropenmuseum. During the opening weekend (9 to 11 October), Tropenmuseum Junior will be presenting numerous Chinese activities for all ages, including demonstrations of tai chi and kung fu, guided tours, workshops, various readings (by Peter Ho, Carolijn Visser and others), short documentaries, Chinese eye massage and tea ceremonies. Opera singer Fang Fang Kong will also perform Chinese songs. Throughout the weekend, admission to the Tropenmuseum is free of charge for children up to the age of 12.
Exhibition, book and game (Dutch only)
In order to reach out to children as much as possible, a book and an online game have been created to accompany the exhibition. All three have been designed to complement each other.
www.qigame.nl
In the online game, you can collect Qi in five different games: calligraphy, Chinese restaurant, acupuncture, kung fu and a Qi quiz. Children who have taken part in the China tour at the museum can view the videos of their own Qi jumps.
The Pearl and the Dragon
This special book features personal recollections, photographs and moving images for everyone who wants to know more about China. It's a book that is jam-packed with Chinese life force, focusing on a country undergoing enormous changes.
Practical information
It is only possible to visit ‘China's Qi’ by taking part in one of the various China tours (Dutch only). In addition to the China tours designed especially for children (age 6-13), there are also China tours for all ages and for school groups. Reservation is recommended: +31 (0) 20 568 8233, especially for groups.
• China tour for children (age 6 to 13, lasting 90 minutes): Wednesday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. and weekends and school holidays at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Visit www.tropenmuseum.nl for school holiday dates;
• China tour for all ages (lasts one hour), weekends and school holidays at 11 a.m.;
• China tour for school groups (lasts one hour and 45 minutes hours or two hours and 15 minutes), held on schooldays for classes 3-8 of primary school and the transitional class. Reservation compulsory.
Tropenmuseum Junior
I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand (Chinese proverb).
Since its establishment in 1975, Tropenmuseum Junior has organised exhibitions for children aged 6 to 13. Convinced that true understanding comes from active involvement, the museum aims on a daily basis to stimulate children mentally and emotionally through knowledge about the world. Tropenmuseum Junior is part of the Tropenmuseum and the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT).
‘The Qi of China’ is partly sponsored by:
Adessium Foundation, The Amsterdam Art Fund (Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst), the City of Amsterdam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, the Mondriaan Foundation, the Netherlands Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO), the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, VSB Fund.
Media partner: Hyves.
Visiting address:
Linnaeusstraat 2, Amsterdam
+31 (0)20-568 8200
tropenmuseum@kit.nl / www.tropenmuseum.nl
Note for editors
For more information, please contact Anna Brolsma at the Tropenmuseum, by calling +31(0) 20 – 568 8422 or e-mailing: a.brolsma@kit.nl.
Press photos
.jpg)
Follow the Tropenmuseum on: