It was a flourishing genre in the 19th century: Chinese art created for a western market.
Now the Burnaby Art Gallery is taking a step back into time to explore the art form in Visualizing a Culture for Strangers: Chinese Export Paintings of the Nineteenth Century.
The exhibition, on tour from the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, runs Jan. 30 to March 29, with an opening reception on Thursday, Jan. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m.
The evening will feature tea tasting, a Gong Fu Cha tea demonstration by Adrian Sinclair and tea leaf readings by artist Cindy Mochizuki.
The exhibition surrounds Chinese export watercolour painting, a special genre that flourished in the city of Guangzhou (Canton), China.
The works were created an exported in large quantities by Chinese artists in western media using western techniques, to meet the demand for a taste of life in China.
Chinese export painters took references from western artworks - including oil paintings, prints, watercolours and sketches - to offer a picture of Chinese life, customs, landscape and architecture.
The travelling exhibition, curated by Barry Till of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, presents a cross-section of these paintings and explores the influential role of western art traditions on Chinese export painting.
A number of public programs are coming up in connection with the exhibition. Some highlights:
* In the BAG Family Sunday: Families can drop in to the gallery on Sunday, Feb. 8 between 1 and 4 p.m. to take part in an interactive experience that combines the current exhibition with a free, hands-on studio activity. It's led by Shelley Tucker. No registration is needed, and all ages are welcome. It's free.
* Family Day - Team Portraits: On Monday, Feb. 9, families can drop in to create a family portrait as a team. One-hour sessions are offered at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $2 per person.
* Drop-in gallery tours: Tours led by Mandarin and English-speaking guides run Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, March 22, with tours starting at 2, 2:30, 3 and 3:30 p.m. They're free and for all ages.
* Curator's talk: Barry Till of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria will be on hand for a curator's talk and tour on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. No registration is needed, all ages are welcome and it's free.
The gallery is also offering some paid programs in connection with the exhibition, including sessions for home learners, a watercolour course and a drypoint etching course.
The Burnaby Art Gallery is at 6344 Deer Lake Ave. It's open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $5. Call 604-297-4422 or see www.burnabyartgallery.ca for more information.
