Resources

View this work in its entirety during Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy (at the Asian Art Museum from October 5, 2012–January 13, 2013). The Character of Characters, 2012, by Xu Bing (Chinese, born 1955). Five-channel video animation installation. Acquisition made possible by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, R2012.54.

Ewer with lid, approx. 1050-1125. Goryeo dynasty (918-1392). Stoneware with blue-green (celadon) glaze. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P123+.

In groups, students will discuss how artists communicate events and characters by observing and describing scenes in the scroll containing stories of Rama’s youth. Students will compare the context of this scroll’s use with those of scrolls illustrating other epics. Then they will create a biographical scroll from the perspective of a character in the Ramayana (The Life of Rama).

Decorated pages intended for a Koran, approx. 1500. Turkey. Manuscript page; Gold and colors on paper. Gift of Elton L. Puffer, 2004.67.

Cup with high handle, approx. 2500–1900 BCE. China; Shandong province. Neolithic period, Longshan culture (approx. 2500-1900 BCE). Gift of Bruce and Terese Bartholomew, 1998.30.

Hear the inscriptions on this rare drinking cup in white jade from the Timurid period (1370-1507) read aloud. The first inscription is in Arabic and the second is in Persian.

Create your own kimono doll finger puppet using this template.

Michael Knight, Senior Curator of Chinese Art at the Asian Art Museum, and Jerry Yang, Collector and Co-founder of Yahoo!, discuss collecting Chinese calligraphy in conjunction with the exhibition, Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy (on view at the Asian Art Museum from October 5, 2012–February 13, 2013).

Javellana, S.J., Professor of Art, Ateneo de Manila University speaks about art and Christianity from a historical perspective. He also explore some of the artworks presented in the exhibition at the University of San Francisco called Galleons and Globalization: California Mission Arts and the Pacific Rim (on view August 20- December 19, 2010).

Students will explore the museum or online exhibition to research and complete their K-W-L charts.