China Theme at Omsk Hermitage
ОМСК The Chinese New Year was just celebrated, and on the 23rd of February, in Omsk, men were given free passes to the 3 main museums, so I took advantage of that and went to see an exhibit I had intended to see for some time. I myself spent over one year in South Korea while in the U.S. Army and got to know the country quite well. Instead of staying on base and playing computer games on every free hour, I was out and about in the country, at first with trepidation, but then with confidence as the transportation system is efficient and well laid out. I climbed Mt. Suraksan, visited Suwon many times and Pusan, ate with local families, visited cafes and restaurants, journeyed through museums, and spent many a day in Seoul enjoying the vibrant culture of Korea. I learned from Korean soldiers working with the army that, in general, the young people would have rather the Americans had never gotten involved in the Korean War. And so, I learned the importance of getting out of the American news and history propaganda was vital for a balanced view of history. Korean art and history, though unique, was immensely influenced by China. The sweeping roofs and celebrations mirror Chinese traditions. And so, with some interest, I'm glad to look into the Hermitage collection. The exhibition introduces the symbolism of Chinese art from the Qing era (1644-1912), a hidden and intricate language that speaks to the viewer through the monuments of China's material culture. This symbolism reveals the concepts of the "Five Happinesses" that are highly desired by the people of China, such as prosperity, career success, wealth, longevity, and the joy of married life. The presented items, which illustrate the rich tradition of encoding good wishes in works of art, could have been gifts or decorations for a wealthy home. Folk paintings were part of the ritual of renewing one's home for the New Year. I like that! The design of decor everywhere enforces the philosophy of life. Now
ОМСК The Chinese New Year was just celebrated, and on the 23rd of February, in Omsk, men were given free passes to the 3 main museums, so I took advantage of that and went to see an exhibit I had intended to see for some time. I myself spent over one year in South Korea while in the U.S. Army and got to know the country quite well. Instead of staying on base and playing computer games on every free hour, I was out and about in the country, at first with trepidation, but then with confidence as the transportation system is efficient and well laid out. I climbed Mt. Suraksan, visited Suwon many times and Pusan, ate with local families, visited cafes and restaurants, journeyed through museums, and spent many a day in Seoul enjoying the vibrant culture of Korea. I learned from Korean soldiers working with the army that, in general, the young people would have rather the Americans had never gotten involved in the Korean War. And so, I learned the importance of getting out of the American news and history propaganda was vital for a balanced view of history. Korean art and history, though unique, was immensely influenced by China. The sweeping roofs and celebrations mirror Chinese traditions. And so, with some interest, I'm glad to look into the Hermitage collection. The exhibition introduces the symbolism of Chinese art from the Qing era (1644-1912), a hidden and intricate language that speaks to the viewer through the monuments of China's material culture. This symbolism reveals the concepts of the "Five Happinesses" that are highly desired by the people of China, such as prosperity, career success, wealth, longevity, and the joy of married life. The presented items, which illustrate the rich tradition of encoding good wishes in works of art, could have been gifts or decorations for a wealthy home. Folk paintings were part of the ritual of renewing one's home for the New Year. I like that! The design of decor everywhere enforces the philosophy of life. Now