Tag: National geographic museum

Toronto Terracotta Warriors show will be biggest ever in North America

Heritage Key has learned that the Terracotta Warriorsexhibition, whichiscoming to Toronto in June, will be the largest one ever seen in Canada or the United States.

Right now the warriors are at the National Geographic Museum in Washington DC. That show, containing more than 100 objects (including 15 terracotta figures), is billed on its website as being the largest display of terracotta figures and tomb artifacts ever to travel to the US.

Dr. Dan Rahimi, of the Royal Ontario Museum, dropped Heritage Key a tantalizing nugget of information today in an interview. In response to a question he said that the Toronto show would be bigger than Washington. Hes the Vice-President of Gallery Development for the museum so hes definitely in the know.

I also asked him how many warriors would be visiting Toronto but he declined to provide further details saying that an announcement will be made on January 27. It’s possible that it will have an identical number of warriors as Washington, but have more artefacts.

Wealso know that, despite the show’s size,itwill bevery specific in time. Ina previous interview Rahimi said that the show willfocus on post-Bronze Age China (after 771 BC). So no Shang period Oracle Bones at this exhibit.

Dr. Rahimi also hinted that in addition to Montreal and Toronto there may be two other Canadian stops on the tour.

Yes were doing the show, there will be a Canadian tour, Montreal has already signed up on the tour (and) were waiting for two other venues to finish negotiations and sign as well.

Preview: Terra Cotta Warriors at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC

Last night, I had the amazing opportunity to join other fellow bloggers and photographers at the sneak-preview of the Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor exhibit. It is an amazing and awe-inspiring collection of detailed weaponry, life-size figures, limestone armor, and intricate details I’ve never had the priviledge to see first-hand before.

I was immediately taken by the sheer size of the figures. On first entering the exhibit, you’re immediately met by a massive horse and calvary man that looms large in the entry room.

The entire exhibit is bursting with the essence of ancient China from the paintings and artifacts adorning the walls, to the low ambience of oriental music, to the lush reds, oranges and browns used in the colour scheme.

What follows from the entryway is at least an hour’s walking-tour (or audio, if you prefer!) of weaponry, armor, currency, bronze figures, incredible clay sculptures and architecture of ancient Chinese culture.

Photography unfortunately is not allowed inside the exhibit once it has opened to the public, however, I fully encourage you to check out the Heritage Key Flickr pool for photographs of this exhibit!

Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor, opened to the public on 19th November, 2009, at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC. The museum is the final venue of the exhibition’s four-city U.S. tour. Tickets are sold for $12 USD per adult, $10 USD per senior citizen, and $6 per child between the ages of 2-12. A group discount rate of $8 USD per person applies to groups of 10 or more.

This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Terracotta Warriors in the U.S. With 55,000 advance tickets sold before opening day, I can only imagine the excitement among those ready to see the figures live and in colour and hope to encourage you to join the crowd!

More photos from the Terracotta Warriors Exhibition by Graecyn:

Are you planning to visit this amazing exhibition? One of those 55.000 people who already bought their ticket? Or already been there? What’s your opinion on these travelling warriors? Is the exhibition doing them justice? Would you advise going?

Terra Cotta Warriors Exhibit Coming to the National Geographic Museum

The Terra Cotta Warriors, guardians of China’s first emperor, are headed to Washington, DC, USA! I will excitedly be among those with a first look at the largest Chinese cultural and historical exhibit ever to come to the United States! An excerpt from the website:

Soldiers. Charioteers. Archers. Musicians. Generals. Acrobats. Nearly 2,000 years ago, thousands of life-size clay figures were buried in massive underground pits to accompany China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, into the afterlife. Their discovery outside the city of Xi’an in 1974 is one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

Now, you will stand face-to-face with these terra cotta warriors. In November 2009, National Geographic Museum will host Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of Chinas First Emperor, an exhibition featuring treasures from the tomb complex including 15 life-size figures, weapons, armor, coins, and more. Don’t miss this chance to see the largest collection of significant artifacts from China ever to travel to the United States.

Tomorrow, after my visit to the exhibit’s exclusive blogger and photographer day, I’ll be posting a detailed blog with lots of photos and detail. This really will be a treat, as photographs will not be allowed inside the exhibit after the exclusive preview day. It is truly exciting! Don’t miss this opportunity to see China’s most beautiful and biggest exhibits brought to the UnitedStates.