BIRDS, BEASTS & FLOWERS | Discovering Asian symbols found in The Johnston Collection with Ruth Clemens

Numerous Asian symbols are found in The Johnston Collection, from a variety of sources or categories such as mythology, nature, Daoism, Buddhism, puns derived from the homophonic Chinese language, and so on.

Through various materials employed such as porcelain, lacquer and textiles, this talk will reveal different aspects of signs and symbols to be discovered.

Ruth Clemens is currently a Voluntary Guide at the National Gallery of Victoria with a special interest in Asian culture. She is a collector of and specialist in Chinese textiles.