Dialogue between Chinese and western museums, Display a regionally complex traditional boat collection in a global context Event

Presenter

Ying-Ying Yan, PhD candidate in Archaeology, University of Southampton

Bio

I have completed my BA and MA in Chinese Art Conservation and Maritime Archaeology respectively and worked as an editor for museum journal. This interdisciplinary background has allowed me to develop insights and skills broadly in cultural heritage and museum, maritime ethnography and academic editorial expertise. My PhD is focusing on the representation of a non-conventional assembly of traditional boats from different countries, I am interested in exploring meaning and value of (maritime) collection, representation and messages delivering.

Topic outline

Founded by Confucius Centre, this project has seized upon the topic of how to display a regionally complex traditional boat collection in a global context. 13-14 December, a two day workshop was held with carefully designed sessions and heated discussions. As a result, dialogue between Chinese and western museum communities is enhanced.

The focus/entry of the workshop is a non-conventional assembly of traditional boats from different countries most recently known as EISCA (International Sailing Craft Association, Eyemouth) collection that originated from UK, and currently mostly resides in China.

Invited speakers are professionals from China, UK, France and Australia. Their presentations were centred around the challenges and value of such boat collection; the background of the ISCA collection and its continuing exciting stories; similar collections in the UK and France; display and communication, contemporary theory and practice in museums; Chinese museum world, the Chinese context of heritage meaning and practice and the public.

Day 1, the start of the workshop, Dr Jeremy Hill, head of research from British Museum and Dr Christopher Elmer from University of Southampton has given talks on the challenges, significance and value regarding such collection, which has prompted further discussion for the workshop.

Dr Lucy Blue from University of Southampton who worked with EISCA collection for many years introduced a brief history of the collection; Mr Zefeng You, the current owner of the EISCA collection also provided up-to-date information about the collection in China.

Dr Eric Kentley has talked about some UK museum approaches to the boat collection display, whilst Dr Kelig-Yann Kotto the director of Port Musée Douarnenez France has showed their approach in dealing with similar boat collection in their museum.

Day 2, the focus of the theme moved onto theory and practice in museums and Chinese museum context. We had Professor Andrea Witcomb, Associate Dean – Research, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University talked about theories and practice regarding three boats on display in Australia; Dr Siyi Wang, Lecturer in Museum Studies program at the College of Liberal Arts, Shanghai University talked about multisensory Cognition of Exhibitions.

Cathy Giangrande has given a comprehensive tour to the Chinese museums and Dr Kong Da, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology, Fudan University, Shanghai, explained a brief history of China’s exhibition diplomacy.