Local Tastemaker: Dr. Yang Liu, Chair of Asian Art and Curator of Chinese Art

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dr. Yang LiuDid you know that Mia has one of the finest collections of Asian art in the world? Our local treasure has thousands of jades, bronzes, paintings and calligraphy among just the Chinese collection. We talked to Dr. Yang Liu, who honestly should be a called a global tastemaker, about Mia’s recent exhibitions and how we might all learn more about the collections.

Q:  Your 2018 collaboration with playwright Robert Wilson, Power and Beauty in China's Last Dynasty, was praised for the experience it provided the viewer to understand the combined objects - jades, lacquers, paintings, court costumes - from the world of the Qing dynasty. What new collaborations do you have planned?  

A:  The collaborative experience of working with Robert Wilson was totally new to us as a museum. It changed my view of how an exhibition can be presented, integrating light, sounds, and smells, and activating multiple senses. Everyone at the museum was very interested in the process of putting together that exhibition, and it worked well with the museum's strategic plan of enriching the community by collecting, preserving, and making accessible art in a very innovative and fresh way. Mia's vision is to inspire wonder through the power of art, and this exhibition certainly accomplished that. We would love to do more collaborations like this in the future.

Above two photos - The Three Perfections: Image, Poem, and Calligraphy in Chinese Painting. On view in Gallery 203.

Q:  The current exhibition, The Three Perfections: Image, Poem, and Calligraphy in Chinese Painting –– Minneapolis Institute of Art (artsmia.org), is also experiential as it explains the writings on Chinese paintings and can evoke our senses of "sight, sound, smell, touch, and emotions." Is it a goal of yours to make the art objects more than one dimensional?  

A:  The Three Perfections is, of course, quite different from the Robert Wilson show; while Power and Beauty was physically experiential, this exhibition is meant to spark the imagination and to evoke the senses within the visitor's mind. The belief behind the Chinese ink painting aesthetic is that even the monochrome ink itself can evoke certain senses in the imagination and the mind. This is a different way of experiencing art, but still highly evocative and is tied to the traditional Chinese aesthetic. The exhibit runs through December of this year.

Q:  You're the Vetting Committee Chair (Asian art) for Frieze Masters. How does the Frieze experience impact your work at Mia? 

A:  I have been participating in Frieze Masters for several years. Every year I learn an enormous amount from the works that are on view; it's a very studious experience for me. Although I am a specialist in Chinese art, it is always helpful and exciting to see all kinds of new works. It is very interesting to meet with new dealers and collectors who work with Chinese art; communicating with them is also a wonderful learning experience to expand further on my existing knowledge. It is also an opportunity to potentially acquire works for Mia's collection. London is one of the major cultural centers of the world, and going there for Frieze Masters also provides an opportunity for me to visit museums and see new exhibitions of Chinese and non-Chinese art to broaden my expertise.

Mia Collection HandbookQ:  There are so many different objects in the Asian collections at Mia - bronzes, paintings, poetry, costumes, woodblock prints, tapestries, etc. - from many countries. Have you considered a Beginner's Guide (or exhibition) to Appreciating Mia Asian art treasures?  

A:  The museum recently published a new handbook - the Mia Collection Handbook - which is exactly what you described, an introduction to the collection for beginners. Although it focuses on the collection as a whole, it prominently features work from all parts of Asia. It is a very popular, beautifully designed book that was written by myself and my curator colleagues. Of course, in the future, we would love to publish new books on the collection; but right now, this is the most updated introduction.

Intimate Space: A Noblewoman’s Bedroom in Late Imperial China. On view in Gallery 218.

Horses in Gallery 215

Jade sculpture in Gallery 210

Q:  You've lived in Minneapolis for over a decade.  What are your favorite things to do when you're not busy curating art for Mia?  

A:  I love to travel, to visit other cities and museums, and to meet with collectors and friends to chat about art. I also love to explore the scenery of the beautiful Twin Cities; I enjoy driving to new places around Minnesota with my family over the weekend or on holidays. I always love to explore more and to see all that this country has to offer.

Q:  You're definitely an art influencer.  How may we follow your news? 

A:  I would love to be more of what you call an informational art influencer, so I will try to do more to reach that goal! I will strive to create more ways for our visitors to appreciate our mission and collections. For Mia, you may follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.