China Past, Present and Future, Horniman Museum, London – till April

China Past, Present and Future

The history of Chinese migrants in the UK, craft activities celebrating Chinese New Year, and cutting edge arts performances influenced by Chinese culture are among the highlights of early 2015 at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill, South London.

A new exhibition exploring the lives and experiences of the Chinese community in the UK opens on Saturday 17 January. Memories of China offers an insight into the history and contribution of Chinese migrants in the UK in the early 20th century, and their relationship to their homeland. It features artworks, videos and objects – from a compass and a cloisonné hotpot brought from Beijing, to statues of the three deities Fu, Lu and Shou (Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity) traditionally displayed in many Chinese homes and shops.

The exhibition is part of the British Chinese Workforce Heritage project, a three-year oral history project organised by Ming-Ai (London) Institute and funded by a £324,400 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project charts the waves of Chinese migration to the UK, from the earliest seafarers and traders to the tens of thousands of Chinese who served during the First and Second World Wars. The project also includes those who settled and built the Chinese communities and their experiences in a range of employment industries including laundry, catering, health care, traditional Chinese medicine and newer professions.

Alongside Memories of China, the Horniman is marking Chinese New Year with themed activities for children and families. From Monday 16 to Friday 20 February, Family Art Fun features craft activities inspired by the Chinese New Year, as well as the opportunity for visitors to help create a traditional Chinese Wishing Tree.

Adults can celebrate the Year of the Sheep with a contemporary twist at the Horniman’s Chinese Late on Thursday 26 February. The evening promises a night of cutting-edge art installations, films and performances by Chinese and international artists, revealing how Chinese culture has inspired artists around the world.

Memories of China opens on Saturday 17 January and runs to Sunday 12 April.  Admission to the exhibition is free.

Tickets to the Chinese Late are on sale now.