SCAD-Atlanta’s first glance at China’s First Emperor’s Terracotta Army
By Jack Huang
The timeless Terracotta Army, created by the 700,000 dedicated craftsmen of China’s ambitious first emperor, has arrived in Atlanta. Known for its immense scale, detailed craftsmanship, and resilience through time, the ancient army of nearly 7,000 warrior statues has long been called the 8th Wonder of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 2007, a large collection of the warriors embarked on their first journey into western shores and arrived at the British Museum. According to the High Museum’s art director, Michael E. Shapiro, “the exhibition was probably their first blockbuster in years,” adding that he believes the Atlanta exhibition will be just as successful as the British Museum exhibition.
The High has already booked 90,000 tickets, the largest batch the museum has ever reserved, including 60,000 tickets from student and adult groups spanning 50 states and seven countries.
As one enters the first gallery, a kneeling archer solemnly welcomes the masses. The figure is taller than an average man’s height, even in its kneeling position, its fine contour shrouded and heightened by chiaroscuro. Behind him extends the dark, tomblike corridors that lead to the Qin weapon exhibition.
In the second gallery, audiences are greeted by various shimmering weapons once carried by the Terracotta soldiers. A large crossbow extends its shafts toward the heavens, beckoning the onlookers as glittering blades and dagger-axes flank this icon of Qin’s military might. One of the swords has a chromium oxide coating and no visible signs of rust or dulling — similar to the weapons featured in the History Channel’s “China’s First Emperor” documentary. Even after 2,000 years, the sword is still sharp enough to cut through foams, according to consultant curator Hiromi Kinoshita.
A hall of around twelve individualized Terracotta Warriors flanked by two richly adorned bronze chariots, greet visitors at the third, and perhaps grandest gallery in the exhibition. Upon closer inspection, audiences can read the unique stories of each warrior, as well as their specialized roles in the army.
According to Kinoshita, the exhibition specifically chose the most visibly defined soldiers, all with different armour configurations, hairstyles and weapons. The most noticeable warriors include a retracting archer, an awkward-looking general and a dynamic charioteer with extended arms.
One of the two bronze chariots — each a replica of the fragile original pieces — represents a “comfort” chariot, which resembles a covered chamber on wheels pulled by four horses. The second is a war chariot with four fluid, bronze-casted steeds, dynamic reins, exquisitely crafted wheels, a charioteer and an umbrella-style canopy.
A fiberglass representation of the Terracotta assembly line is also displayed at the High. According to the closest estimates regarding the Terracotta Army’s workforce, at least 1,000 people were present to work on the statues at any given time. The fiberglass model detailed the process of crafting the models. For example, each workstation would work on specific body part of the statue, such as the head or the arm, and send their products to be merged with parts produced by other workstations.
The last gallery displayed recently excavated treasures, including ornate stone armour with thousands of interconnected, painted stone plates, bronze water birds and a delicate bronze crane extending its neck to catch a fish. This exhibition took over two years to complete.
“There’s a whole generation today that probably knows of this army and the emperor’s magnificent tomb, but didn’t really know them or is as fascinated about them like the older generations. Now is the time for them to see,” said Kinoshita.
Historic Timeline:
- Built 2,200 years ago during China’s first unified empire, the Terracotta Army was created to protect the spiritual and mortal remains of its first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi.
- This army of statues was rigorously produced and meticulously refined after the emperor unified the four corners of the empire in 221 B.C. Ultimately, it became an eternal fighting force of various infantrymen, strongmen, archers, charioteers and musicians that stood waiting at the side of their emperor’s mausoleum (fully painted with sumptuous colors).
- Despite their imposing presence, the army was ransacked and burned after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty. All evidence of their existence was lost, and the Terracotta Army became an unproven legend until local farmers discovered the army’s vault complex in 1974.
- The Terracotta Army left Asia for the first time in 2007, when they were featured in an exhibition at the British Museum.
For more information, visit www.high.org