The  University Museum and Art Gallery is pleased to announce its latest exhibition presenting the history of late-Qing period China (1839–1911), through the lives of eighty-seven significant personalities who have, until recently, been both politically and culturally unpopular. In the century since the 1911 revolution, it has been possible to take a more objective view of the achievements of this group of foreigners who were closely identified with cultural imperialism, officials who served in the Qing court, scholars who were considered faithful to classical culture and literature, and yimin (recluses) who were considered to have opposed both the Republican revolution and the Communists.

On display will be valuable artefacts on loan from Mr Soong Shu-kong, offering insights into the recent history of East-West cultural exchange. The exhibition will include examples of Chinese painting, calligraphy, personal correspondence, books, and scholars’ objects. Many of the exhibits are on display for the first time and are published in a two-volume catalogue authored by Mr Soong.

Among the figures featured are Alexander Wylie (1815–1887), James Legge (1815–1897) and Charles Gordon (1833–1885), the officials are represented by Li Hongzhang (1823–1901), Zhang Zhidong (1837–1909), Duan Fang (1861–1911) and Liang Qichao (1873–1929). Scholars include Yu Yue (1821–1906), Li Ciming (1829–1894), Miao Quansun (1844–1919), Gu Tangsheng (1857–1928) and Ye Dehui (1864–1927) and among the yimin (recluses) are Chen Sanli (1853–1937), Liang Dingfen (1859–1919), Kuang Zhouli (1859–1926), Wang Guowei (1877–1927), and Pu Ru (1896–1963).

The exhibition preview will take place on Thursday 30th August 2012 from 6:00–7:30 pm. The collector, Mr Soong Shu-kong will be present.