Atlanta Art: King Tut and Terracotta Warriors

How ideas of the afterlife have changed! These days we say, “You can’t take it with you.” But for the royals of ancient Egypt and China, death was just a passage into another realm where they would need all kinds of useful things. So they prepared vast, well-stocked tombs.

Two awe-inspiring Atlanta exhibitions showcase the fabulous contents of two such royal resting places: China’s terracotta warriors at the High Museum of Art and the King Tut exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center. The underground palace complex of Qin Shihuangdi, China’s first emperor, was “staffed” by thousands of life-like clay soldiers and officials. The tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun was crammed with exquisite sculptures, furnishings and jewelry. You can view hundreds of objects from each, and the very different ideas of the afterlife they represent, during your Atlanta vacation.

China’s Terracotta Warriors: Uncanny Realism

“The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army” at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art includes objects from the enormous underground burial complex of the ruler who unified China. When Qin Shihuangdi died, in 210 B.C., he was interred with slightly larger-than-life clay figures representing foot soldiers, charioteers, generals, civil servants—and even jugglers and musicians, to delight him.

More than 8,000 figures have been excavated so far, most of which are still in place at the site in China. Only 15 are in this exhibition, but unlike in China, the installation allows you a close, intimate view of them.

The figures convey an impression of deep thought, meditative suspension and timelessness; perhaps this is from their stillness, or because their eyes are open, but all their mouths are closed and straight—none are curved into a smile. While they were cast in molds, each face was individually sculpted, with remarkable realism and detail.

 

• Detail of a Qin infantry man.

John Williams and Saul Peckham

In addition to the figures, you will see objects that bring to life this period of Chinese history: coins, weapons and armor, pendants, vessels, ritual objects and architectural fragments. There are models of one of the first emperor’s palaces, and of the terracotta figures being crafted on a sort of manual assembly line.

Your Ticket to the Tombs. High Museum of Art Atlanta, 1280 Peachtree St. NE. Entry to “The First Emperor” is on the half hour. Tickets: $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors 65 and over, $11 for kids 6 to 17, free for children under 6; includes access to all galleries of the museum. Hours: Tues. to Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit runs through April 19, 2009. The High Museum of Art is adjacent to Arts Center station. Tel. 404-733-5000, www.high.org.

After Atlanta, the exhibit moves to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, May 22 to Oct. 18, 2009, followed by the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., Nov. 19, 2009 to March 31, 2010.

Next: King Tut Artifacts: Exquisite Detail