Special Showcase Opening & Lecture on the Art of Song Painting

An exhibition opening and lecture exploring the musical imagery embedded in Song dynasty paintings, drawn from A Collection of Song Dynasty Paintings.

The Unheard Melody: Music in Chinese Paintings unfolds across three thematic sections — Harmony Through Music, Elegance and Refinement in Music, and Music in Common Life — tracing music's role in Song society from court rituals and literati gatherings to everyday life. The showcase features high-resolution digital reproductions, audiovisual installations, and interactive experiences with traditional Chinese instruments.

The opening ceremony brings the world to life through traditional Chinese music, Kunqu opera performances, flower arrangement, lacquer fan painting, and Hanfu garment activities.

Professor Miao Zhe's accompanying lecture, "Florence, Kyoto and Hangzhou: The Rise of Chinese Painting Collections in the U.S.," traces how changing artistic tastes during the Gilded Age shaped the formation of Chinese painting collections in America.