Synopsis:

Music, craft, and the ideals of the Chinese literati converge in a new multi-sensory exhibition opening in the Scholars Gallery of the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore (ACM). The first major refresh to the gallery since 2015, the exhibition examines the significance of the qin 琴, later known as the guqin 古琴 (Chinese zither), in Chinese culture, where it has been played for over two thousand years.

Visitors will be able to appreciate the artistry of the qin through diverse objects dating from the Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) to today, including ancient instruments, bronzes, paintings, ceramics, rare books, and furniture. As part of the museum's commitment to innovation, the exhibition features a dedicated space within the gallery to create opportunities for new and meaningful connections between art and audiences. Serving as a space for performance and reflection, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the contemplative tranquillity of literati culture, complemented by a tactile digital interactive featuring an actual qin. Highlights include a series of recordings by renowned qin master Dr Kee Chee Koon, and a video presentation by master craftsman Ning Qunhui that reveals how the unique voice of each instrument is created.

As visitors uncover the unique voices of the qin, they are invited to reflect on the enduring role of music in fostering mindfulness and artistic appreciation.