NGV Exhibition Excursion

Terracotta Warriors & Cai Guo - Qiang Exhibition

On Wednesday the 7th of August, students ranging from Years 7-12 attended the Terracotta Warriors & Cai Guo –Qiang exhibition at the NGV in the city Centre of Melbourne. This exhibition was largely funded by the NGV and was an amazing opportunity for some of CSC’s highest achieving Arts students.

Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality is a large-scale presentation of the Qin Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors, which, discovered in 1974 in China’s Shaanxi province, are regarded as one of the greatest archaeological finds of the twentieth century and widely described as the eighth wonder of the world. This presentation features more than 150 exquisite treasures of historic Chinese art and design.

We started off the day with a fabulous presentation by one of the curators who provided a rich background and history of the Warriors and the connected us with the modern artist exhibiting; Cai Guo-Qiang who’s practice is conceptually grounded in contemporary social issues and his lifelong interest in Eastern philosophy.

Cai Guo-Qiang exposes traditional Chinese materials, paper, porcelain and silk to gunpowder explosions during a series of live ignitions, Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape presents a new body of work inspired by the history, places and culture that served as the backdrop to the reign of China’s first emperor Qin Shihuang, and the creation of the terracotta warriors.

The exhibition was highly engaging and interactive, with students navigating themselves through a world of rich history and modern art. For art student, seeing a broad depth of practice and conceptual work creates a greater meaning and understanding of The Arts; an extremely valuable day for all involved.

As the day concluded, the excursion became more than the exhibition when several students donated their lunches to the homeless on the street. This act of kindness and consideration emphasised what fabulous and humble students we have at Craigieburn Secondary College.