The internationally-acclaimed exhibition Pearls, Treasures from the Seas and the Rivers has opened in Beijing, China, as one of the highlights of the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, Qatar Museums (QM) announced yesterday.
The large-scale exhibition is jointly presented by QM, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the National Museum of China will be on show at the National Museum of China in Beijing until January 8, 2017.
Pearls, Treasures from the Seas and the Rivers is the first international exhibition introduced by the National Museum of China, with a focus on the history, legend, mythology and meaning of pearls from Qatar, China and around the world.
A total of 130 rare and beautiful pieces from the QM collection, as well as a spectacular Imperial masterpiece from the National Museum of China’s own collection are on show.
Under the guidance of QM chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and National Museum of China’s director Lu Zhangshen, the exhibition is a highlight of the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture initiative, which aims to celebrate, strengthen and enhance cultural relationships and mutual understanding between China and Qatar, and to build upon the long, shared history of cultural and diplomatic relations between both countries.
The exhibition is co-curated by internationally renowned pearl expert, Dr Hubert Bari. Zhangshen was the chief planner from China’s part to oversee overall curation.
The exhibition highlights the importance of natural pearls from countries in the Gulf region, as part of the region’s rich heritage and identity. It celebrates a wide array of stunning and important objects of historical interest to both countries, and reveals the history of the use of pearls over 2,000 years, from the Roman period until the 21st century.
Among the exquisite exhibits are jewel masterpieces by internationally acclaimed designers, royal pearl tiaras from European monarchies and stunning wearable jewellery made from rare pearls from various regions.
Divided into six parts with over a dozen themes, the exhibition presents “The Natural History of Pearls”, “Pearls in the Arabian Gulf”, “Pearls in the History”, “Natural Freshwater Pearls”, “Pioneers of the Cultured Pearls” and “Cultivating Pearls in Chinese Ways”.
“Pearls in the History” is the largest part of the exhibition, occupying nearly the half proportion of the exhibition area. It presents masterpieces of exquisite pearl jewellery since the European medieval period.
Qatar was an important transportation hub in the ancient “Maritime Silk Road”, with its prestigious pearls trade as a crucial tie linking Eastern and Western cultures in the long course of history.
After Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the significant Belt and Road Initiative, Qatar was one of the first countries to sign a memorandum of co-operation with China and also the key country in which the Belt and Road strategy was implemented.
Upon the establishment of this strategic partnership, the two countries have continuously expanded mutual economic and trade exchanges and achieved rapid international co-operation.
Qatar Airways is the official airline sponsor, and Shangri-La Hotel group is the official hospitality sponsor of the Years of Culture initiative.