Peking University, June 5, 2019: On May 29, the exhibition “BOTANIC: National Amalgamation Project” opened at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology at Peking University. Hao Ping, president of Peking University, Dame Jillian Sackler, honorary director of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, and Maryan Najd, the 2019 international artist for the Dame Jillian Sackler International Artists Exhibition Program, attended the opening ceremony.
PKU President Hao Ping also spoke highly of this exhibition. He sincerely expressed his gratitude to Dame Jillian Sackler for her support to this program and exhibition.
Hao Ping
Dame Jillian Sackler delivered a speech at the ceremony. She pointed out that Dame Jillian Sackler International Artists Exhibition Program aims to bridge the gap between different cultures with extraordinary art exhibitions. Thus, she believed that Najd’s Botanic exhibition, with its deep concern for human beings all over the world, would definitely resonate with the viewers.
Dame Jillian Sackler
Maryan Najd, designer of the exhibited works, shared her ideas during the creating process with the audience at the opening ceremony. “BOTANIC is a research project on cultural and national amalgamation that uses national flowers. Flowers and their meaning have been the subject of conversation for as long as humankind has taken the time to behold the beauty in each petal. The symbolism of flowers is endless: they are associated with powers ranging from protection to love, warnings and wealth. However, the flower itself unfolds worlds of a deeper meaning. During my research, I learned that the flower itself is the reproductive systems of the plant, and the meaning of flowers generally deals with rebirth. But they can also symbolise many other things, such as hope, love, life, growth, vitality, elegance, devotion, inspiration and unity”, Najd said.
Maryan Najd
BOTANIC is the seventh exhibition held by the Dame Jillian Sackler International Artists Exhibition Program, which focuses on representing nations with various flowers and discovering worlds of a deeper meaning the flower itself unfolds.
The exhibition will last for 3 months, closing on August 29. Visitors can access the exhibition with valid identification. For those who are not students or staff at PKU, please make a reservation via Peking University Official WeChat account in advance.
Written by: Qiu Tianjie, Qiu Kanghua
Edited by: Wang Nini, Hu Rong
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
