Orientations

Orientations is a bimonthly print magazine published in Hong Kong and distributed worldwide since 1969. It is an authoritative source of information on the many and varied aspects of the arts of East and Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, from the latest scholarly research to market analysis and current news.

This issue discusses the symbolism, style, and imperial associations of the painting Miroku in Welcoming Descent, a recent accession to The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Japanese galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, showcase a rich collection that reflects the museum’s historical relationship with Japan and an evolving approach to curation. 
We interviewed Professor Ide Seinosuke on the eve of his retirement from Kyushu University to discuss his influential and distinguished career. 
Arnold Chang (b. 1954) roots his work in the Chinese literati landscape painting tradition, emphasizing a rigorous study of classical masterworks rather than direct observations of nature. His solo exhibition, ‘Landscapes by Arnold Chang (Zhang Hong)’, is on view at the Cleveland Museum of Art from 8 March to 9 November 2025.
We admire the works of Hong Xian, also known as Margaret Chang. Born in Yangzhou in 1933, she first migrated to Taiwan in 1948 after WWII and later to the USA in 1958. Her works are characterized by fluid, organic forms and a blend

of traditional and modern techniques that blur the conventional boundaries of landscape painting and reflect her generation’s experience of displacement and uncertainty.
We introduce the exhibition, ‘Royal Bronzes of Angkor, an Art of the Divine’, opening this April at the Musée Guimet. Khmer bronzes, including Hindu and Buddhist images, ritual objects, and architectural elements, are presented in dialogue with stone sculptures, reflecting their religious, aesthetic, and technical significance.
The story is told of Ivan Skušek, an economist in the Austro-Hungarian navy, who began collecting Chinese ceramics, textiles, Buddhist sculptures, and coins during his deployment in East Asia from 1913 to 1920. His wife, Tsuneko Kondo, played a crucial role in promoting the collection which forms a significant part of Slovenian cultural heritage.
We pay tribute to Robert Chang—dealer, collector, and legend in the field of Chinese art— and take the opportunity to introduce his generous donation of Chinese cloisonné to the Shanghai Museum.