Wereldmuseum Rotterdam hosts "Made in China" exhibition in Netherlands
From 11 October 2024, the exhibition Made in China will be displayed at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam. In the exhibition, the museum examines the past and present of ‘the act of making’. Making is timeless and inextricably linked to being human. It allows us to reflect on the world around us while simultaneously shaping it.
Made in China takes China as a case study for a new perspective on the act of making. The exhibition showcases China’s culture of making, which is both ancient and vibrant, through a mix of objects, timelines, art, fashion, photographs, and videos. It also explores the diverse meanings of ‘making’ through the lens of contemporary artists and designers such as Cao Fei, Susan Fang, Jing He, Ma Ke, Li Xiaofeng, and Yang Yongliang. They are makers, but they also reflect on different aspects of the making process in their work.
Contemporary Chinese makers respond to the changing world and Chinese cultural traditions in their work. The artists, designers, and artisans in the exhibition show how they respond to societal developments through their work. For instance, the fashion designer Ma Ke reacts to fast fashion by designing sustainable clothing using traditional materials and techniques that have fallen into oblivion. The makers of Yidesign have developed a method to reuse ceramic waste, of which China produces 18 million tons annually. Chan Po-fung creates beautiful new jewellery from broken jade bracelets, with the flaws becoming a cherished part of the design. At the museum’s invitation, Jing He and the Tulip Pyramid collective are creating new work exploring themes such as identity and craft. The exhibition also shows work by fashion designers Susan Fang and Feng Chen Wang, homewear design by Jia Inc., porcelain by Dong Quanbin, photographic art by Yang Yongliang, and a shard dress by Li Xiaofeng.
The exhibition Made in China is on display at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam until 31 August 2025.
