2008 - Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

A young artist presents her work in the
vaulted basement of the Residenzschloss
during the exhibition “Könige – Kostbarkeiten
– Kästchen – Kinder – Kunstwerke” (Kings –
Treasures – Boxes – Children – Works of Art)
A creative workshop as part of the accompanying programme of an exhibition
and creative nature – focused particularly on cultural
transfer. In various events involving dialogue between
Museum Education specialists and Chinese guest speakers,
visitors had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding
of the everyday situations depicted in the exhibition
“Humanism in China. Ein fotografisches Porträt” (A Contemporary
Record of Photography). This concept turned
out to be successful. Many guests took part in the guided
tours, and to their surprise they often discerned more
similarities than differences between the two cultures. The
events for children, teenagers and adults and the regular
special guided tours offered particularly favourable opportunities
for practical and creative work, as in the exhibition
“Zeichen im Wandel der Zeit. Chinesische Tuschemalerei
der Gegenwart” (The Transforming Marks of Ink.
Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting). During the summer
holidays, for example, an ink painting workshop was held
where participants could experiment and create their own
designs. Inspired by the methodical consideration of the
works of art in the exhibition, the guests pursued their
own interests, selected their own motifs and expressed
their individual creativity on paper. This practical experience
deepened their understanding and appreciation of
Chinese art, trained the eye to see beyond the seemingly
effortless brushstrokes and to recognise the experimental
aspect of the Chinese artists’ exploration of this traditional
art form. A further highlight was the Children’s
Festival in the Residenzschloss on 3rd June 2008, which
was attended by more than 1,100 children between the
ages of 4 and 12. Taking the motto “China” as the starting
In the exhibition “Madonna meets Mao”
point but extending far beyond that, the spectrum of activities
ranged from the art of Kung-Fu, circus arts, table
tennis and show contests – open to all comers – via the
museums, particularly the Neues and the Historisches
Grünes Gewölbe and the Münzkabinett in the Hausmannsturm,
to the special exhibition on “Canaletto”.
Replica camerae obscurae inspired the participants to
explore how they functioned and try out for themselves
how to use them for reproducing an image. In the workshops
entitled “My world is upside-down – Painting like
Canaletto” during the special exhibition in the Gemäldegalerie
Alte Meister, visitors could learn about the theoretical
and scientific principles involved and engage in
practical artistic activities.
In the events it offers, the aim of the Museum Education
service is to create a relationship between the objects on
display and the viewer’s own personal realm of experience.
With its broad range of exhibitions encompassing the
spheres of culture, art and history, the “China Year” in 2008
offered visitors the rare opportunity to engage with a
particular country intensively and for a sustained period.
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