Brick carving is a traditional folk art that was used to decorate architecture and adorn tombs. Excavations in recent decades have uncovered unique, theatrically-themed brick carvings from Shanxi Province, revealing a passion for theater and opera within the region during the Jin dynasty (1115– 1234). The tombs in Shanxi, adorned with beautiful, intricate brick carvings and other decoration, illustrated two kinds of popular entertainment: Za Ju 杂剧, formal performances of written plays; and San Qu 散剧, performances related to village festivals. With an entirely reconstructed tomb and nearly ninety items, the exhibition highlighted the intersection of brick carving and theater traditions and offered visitors insight into the ways ancient art patrons transferred the artistic joys of life into the afterlife.
This exhibition is made possible, in part, by the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation and China Institute Friends of the Gallery.
