The exhibition on ancient Chinese culinary culture kicked off on Sept 10 at the China Cultural Center in Paris, and it was welcomed by nearly 100 visitors from the cultural, artistic and academic circles in Paris.
This exhibition is themed on the 10,000 Years of Culinary Journey: Chinese Culinary Culture Through the Lens of Digital Technology, and is divided into four sections: ancient Chinese cooking methods, culinary utensils, banquet traditions, and literati cultural life.
The exhibition includes over 30 sets and pieces of culinary utensils, along with digital presentation techniques, including virtual reality and animation, to make the viewing more immersive and to enhance understanding of ancient Chinese culinary culture.
From the Neolithic Period to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), pottery basins, a bronze roasting rack, and even beautiful porcelain plates and jade cups illustrate the many changes that occurred throughout history. The diversity of utensils like these, whether in material or shape, that were used in ancient Chinese kitchens and dining rooms impressed Laurent, a visitor to the exhibition.
Through this exhibition, one can gain an understanding of the gradual process of cooking and the evolution of systematic banquet etiquette from the ancient people’s primitive cooking attempts.
For the Chinese, eating isn’t just about taste, said Zhu Xiaoyun, deputy director of the China Cultural Centre in Paris. “Chinese cuisine expresses our relationship with nature, the seasons, family and rituals, as well as our appreciation of the beauty of diversity,” she said.
In the Showcase, Wang Yueqian, the curator of the exhibition, will deliver a special lecture to share his deeper understanding and insights on the evolution and meaning of ancient Chinese culinary culture from the perspective of cultural relics, as a research fellow at the National Museum of China.
The exhibition will also include special screenings of the food documentary A Bite of China, which will bring the audience to China through the lens and introduce the different ingredients, the way they cook, and the regional flavours of China.
The two-month exhibition, which will end on Nov. 10, will be co-organised by the China Cultural Centre in Paris and the National Museum of China.
