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.

As Orientations enters its 56th year of publication with the January/February 2025 issue, we strive to appeal to a wider readership. We believe that our commitment to broadening our coverage with features on lesser-known regions, collections, and institutions, while exploring universal themes within specialized fields, will be of interest to many. 

To celebrate sixty years of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations, the Musée Guimet presents an exhibition showcasing artefacts from over thirty Chinese institutions. Highlights include treasures from the Hejiacun, Famensi, and Dingmaoqiao hoards, as well as recently unearthed wall paintings and other discoveries. An analysis of a Tang dynasty carved limestone Buddha in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago provides insights into its provenance, style, and iconography. The inscription, stating a date and donor, places it within a rich historical and religious context. In 1835, a landowner from Riga unearthed a rich burial containing a 10th century ceramic cup and an 11th century coin, dating the burial to the reign of Conrad II (r. 1024–39). While the cup’s form echoes Chinese Tang dynasty vessels, its construction is simpler and coarser. The discovery of the Riga cup, along with two other similar pieces, strongly suggests a direct trade route for ceramics between China and northern Europe in the 10th century. 

Following the Song court’s displacement to Southern China in 1127, artistic production played a key role in efforts to restore the dynasty. While early Southern Song (1127–1279) painting is often characterized as stylistically conservative, Illustrations of Auspicious Responses, depicting Emperor Gaozong’s youth, offers a more nuanced perspective. 

From a later period but nevertheless one of robust trade between Europe and Asia, is the 13th century Cup of Saint Sigismund from the Abbey of Saint-Maurice d’Agaune, a remarkable artefact that shows a unique blend of Eastern, Western, and Islamic influences, exemplifying transcontinental artistic exchange. 

The donation by Harish K. Patel of 150 silver pieces to the Birmingham Museum of Art significantly enhances scholarship on South Asian silver. We highlight the works of the Barjeel Art Foundation, whose focus on the art of the Arab world demonstrates the value of culture as a political force, shaping power dynamics between the governed and those who govern, and discuss how to represent the work of diasporic artists whose experiences of conflict are not explicitly reflected in their art.