MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
Wonders, the Memphis International Cultural Series, an art and educational
exhibit series jointly sponsored by the City of Memphis and private
donors, curated an exhibition on "The Imperial Tombs of
China." The exhibition included approximately 275 artifacts
excavated from tomb sites in China. Eighteen different museums and
cultural centers in nine provinces provided pieces for the show. The
pieces represented the art, culture and history of seven dynasties from
China's past. The artifacts spanned 2,500 years of Chinese history
beginning before the consolidation of China as a country and continuing to
the last emperor in 1912.
The objective of the design was to transform an anonymous 25,000 square foot convention center hall into a setting appropriate for the display of the various artifacts. Historical research including travel to China suggested a design which would create architectural spaces that alluded to the style and character of the subject matter. By transporting the visitors to the time and place where the artifacts originated, the overall experience was enhanced.