China's terracotta warriors are returning to Australia after over 35 years, after the National Gallery of Victoria announced that the ancient artifacts are making a comeback, along with new figures, on May 24 to October 13, 2019.
The gallery's 2019 Winter Masterpieces exhibit will showcase two of China's most controversial and valuable art collections: "Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape" and "Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality." The first time the warriors exhibited internationally was also in Melbourne back in 1982.
The latest exhibition will feature eight life-sized warrior figures, two replica bronze chariots drawn by four horses each, and two horses of the Imperial Army writes The Guardian. Archaeologists believe that the army had been constructed as part of the grand mausoleum built for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, to guide his journey to the afterlife. In 1974, thousands of these sculptures were discovered at the Shaanxi province, believed to be created between 221 and 2016 BC. The discovery is still considered one of the most monumental finds in the history of archaeology. Also included in the upcoming exhibit are 150 kinds of jade, bronze, and gold artifacts dated between 1046 BC and 220 AD.
Also coming in May 2019 is an installation of over 10,000 porcelain starlings suspended in the air and formed in the shape of Mount Li. It also features a large porcelain sculpture that features peonies. The contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang calls his collection "The Transient Landscape" to commemorate the site where the emperor Qin Shi Huang and terracotta warriors were found. The collection will also hold one of the artist's signature gunpowder drawings. According to ABC, the artist visited the tomb to derive inspiration for his latest work, which is produced exclusively for the National Gallery of Victoria.
