Veletržní Palace, 4th floor, West wing
Dukelských hrdinů 47, Praha 7

Curated by: Olga Uhrová

Main NG partner: Unicredit Bank Czech Republic, a.s.
NG sponsor: Synot Lotto, a.s.
Main media partner: Hospodářské noviny
Media partners: art&antiques, Classic FM, ČRo3 -Vltava 

The exhibition introduces into a representative group of works created by 33 (out of the total of 56) ethnic minorities living on the vast area of China today. These minorities form 8.41 per cent of Chinese population. Their clothing differs into large extent due to the varying natural milieu they inhabit, which results in numerous divergences in the selection of materials, in style as well as in the colour scale. The consequence of all these aspects is a rich culture of processing textiles. Since time immemorial, religious and ancient traditions have delineated the form of the traditional apparel and at the same time testified about the history of a given family and an individual’s affiliation to a tribe.

A significant example on display is the “Miao–Bainiao” attire decorated with bird’s feathers, serving for an important ceremonial during which religious offerings are made to the Miao predecessors in the Moon Mountains of Rongjian. Ancient abstract patterns accompanied by images of butterflies, dragons and fish also embellish the ribbons of the given piece. In the “Manchu” palace in Beijing, women wore the so-called “dragon gown” made of red silk and satin and decorated with gold and silver embroidery. The woman’s clothing of the “Nachi” type is exemplified at the exhibition by a sheepskin shawl which is considered to be a “talisman” albeit it indeed does not provide a thorough protection from cold.

The people of Orogeno who live on hunting make full use of the smoothness and warmness of animal skins to produce their clothing which they subsequently decorate with simple, natural styles.

The outstanding feature of all presented exhibits is their high level of treatment, whether it is producing delicate and complex embroidered patterns or processing the materials used to make jewellery, earrings, necklaces as well as knives.

In the rich spectrum of the exhibited bulk of 43 traditional attires, jewellery and other objects, the exhibition allows the visitors to take a look into this remote cultural world and it emphasizes the unique culture of the particular groups.

By its richness of both colours and ornaments, this world of Chinese ethnic minorities still remains inspiring and enriching for the 21st century.

Before it was presented in Prague, the significant collection of attires and ornaments of Chinese ethnic minorities was made available to the public in Madrid in its exhibition spaces of the cultural centre called Matadero.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue in English.

Opening hours:
Daily except Mondays from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. 

Contact for journalists:
Marcela Hančilová
Phone: +420 224 301 167, 724 501 536, e-mail: hancilova@ngprague.cz
www.ngprague.cz