by Xinhua writer Tan Jingjing
LOS ANGELES, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Bowers Museum, a premier cultural art museum in U.S. Southern California, has launched a comprehensive and immersive exhibition of original Asian comics artworks.
The exhibition is the most extensive collection of Asian comics artworks from the continent ever, Bowers Museum told Xinhua at a briefing on Thursday.
The exhibition, running from Saturday through Sept. 8, provides a vibrant exploration of the art of comics and visual storytelling across the vast continent of Asia.
It features more than 500 art works, including delicate Japanese woodblock prints, intricate Hindu scroll paintings, digital media wonders, mass-produced comics, and contemporary illustrations.
Visitors will also gain insights into how these comics have permeated other forms of media and pop culture, including cinema, animation, fashion, music, and video games.
"This exhibition not only celebrates the artistry of comics but also emphasizes their role in preserving culture, history, and personal stories," said Dr. Seán O'Harrow, director of Bowers Museum.
"We are thrilled to provide our visitors a window into this captivating world and another entry point for exploring world cultures," he said.
The exhibition also includes about 80 artworks of Chinese artists from either the country's mainland or overseas, Dr. Tianlong Jiao, chief curator and director of the Asian Exhibition Program of Bowers Museum, told Xinhua.
Jiao expressed his hope that the exhibition will raise American public's attention to the unique art form of Asian comics, and help them better understand Asian cultures.
He said the museum plans to have more exchanges and cooperation with Chinese museums in the near future, and bring the Chinese culture to American audiences through various exhibitions.
Bowers Museum, founded in 1932, has been a base for students in Orange County, Southern California, to experience the Chinese history and civilization.
Anne Shih, chairwoman of the Board of Governors of Bowers Museum, launched a "Junior Ambassadors Program" for the museum in 2001, with an aim to expose young participants to the rich history and culture of ancient China while helping them improve public service and presentation skills.
Shih told Xinhua that Bowers Museum is working with Chinese partners to showcase the archaeological findings of China's Shaanxi Province to the American audience. Meanwhile, the museum will bring its Pacific Islands art collections to Pingtan Art Museum in China's Fujian Province in this October for an exchange program. ■
