| “Sex Among the Lotus” provides
a sweeping survey of the culture’s erotic heritage. It examines
the archeological record and literary sources of China’s carnal
obsessions and places China’s well-known visual erotica within
the larger historical context of the culture. The exhibition
includes over 300 works of art from private and public collections
in the U.S., Europe and Asia – from the explicit imagery of
200 BC tomb tiles and sexual escapades of Tang dynasty emperors
to the latest pornography hot off China’s commercial presses.
On display are rarely seen artifacts from such distinguished
lenders as Kinsey Institute Museum, Gallerie Myrna Myers, Joel
& Edie Frankel, Glenn Roberts, and China’s Sex Museum in
Shanghai. Objects include a 10th century rock-crystal penis,
exquisitely painted pillow books created to educate young brides
and concubines, an extraordinary selection of shoes for bound
feet, and remarkable photographs of sex workers from Shanghai’s
notorious red light districts. |
