China’s terracotta warriors for Te Papa
Te Papa will host an exhibition of China’s ancient terracotta warriors next year.
The national museum in Wellington is teeing up an exhibition of the 2300-yearold treasures from the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, to open in December 2018.
It is understood the major exhibition,
China’s Terracotta Armies, will cost more than $4 million.
A large part of the expense will be transporting the lifesize warriors to and from China, and bringing in a team of Chinese experts to install and remove them.
Te Papa head of partnerships and development Wladimir Ramsteijn was in China last week, seeking sponsorship support for the exhibition and ‘‘casting the net offshore’’ for new ideas and partnerships to help support the commercial side of the museum.
He expected the exhibition – from December 20, 2018, until April 2019 – to attractmore than 112,000 visitors and have an economic impact of about $41m.
Wellington has previously hosted an exhibition of miniature versions of the famous warriors but this will be the first opportunity to see the lifesized originals.
Creators were working on how to exhibit the agreed list of 160 works that will include eight terracotta warrior figures, two warrior horses, and two replica bronze horse-drawn chariots.
The exhibition, which is understood to be insured for US$80m (about NZ$117m), will also feature dozens of treasures from imperial tombs in and around China’s ancient capital of Xi’an, where the clay army was uncovered in 1974.
The museum was planning to make it an immersive exhibition, and aims to develop film or augmented reality experiences.
Te Papa would also host an exhibition of contemporary Chinese art, and wanted to create Chinese cultural events linked to the exhibition and the Chinese New Year celebrations in 2019, Ramsteijn said.
He said the museum would use the exhibition to foster regional and national tourism, as well as to promote diplomatic relations and trade with China.
The exhibition has been on the cards since the museum signed amemorandum of understanding in 2012 with Shaanxi History Museum, and was followed up in 2013 by former prime minister John Key, when he visited Xi’an.
After a series of negotiations, a final contract was signed with Shaanxi Cultural Relics Bureau in March this year.
Wellington Regional Economy Development Agency chief executive Derek Fry said the exhibition would be a valuable opportunity.
‘‘We share Te Papa’s view that this exhibition can be leveraged to build cultural, political and business links with China.’’
In a letter of support, John McKinnon, New Zealand ambassador to China, said every year millions of people travelled to see the warriors, which were a remarkably lifelike depiction of people from long ago.
‘‘The presence of a group of them in New Zealand will broaden understanding in our country of China’s long and diverse history. The exhibition will contribute to our ever-growing cultural link between China and New Zealand.’’