Latest news with #WAMuseumBoolaBardip
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Gala event 2000 years in the making
Emmi Masten & Dylan Moore at the Terracotta Warriors Gala. Picture: John Koh / The West Australian To mark the WA Museum Boola Bardip's most significant exhibition to date, guests dressed in their finest and gathered within the striking space to celebrate the opening of Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor. The VIPs — dressed in sequins, velvet and pops of red — were the first to glimpse the Australian-exclusive event which brings together eight original life-size Terracotta Warriors and more than 200 ancient artefacts, half of which have never before been seen outside of China. The exhibition is running at the museum until February 2026.
West Australian
21-06-2025
- West Australian
World famous Chinese Terracotta Warriors army set up camp at WA Museum Boola Bardip
Perth is preparing to host the 'eighth wonder of the world'. The world-famous Chinese Terracotta Warriors have marched their way to WA Museum Boola Bardip, where they are taking up residence from June 28 for the next seven months. From next Saturday Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor will transport people back to ancient China and shine a light on emperor Qin Shi Huang thanks to some never-seen-before artefacts along with a virtual tour of his unopened tomb. 'For me, this is the eighth wonder of the world,' WA Museum Boola Bardip executive officer Alec Cole said. 'Warrior figures have been to Australia before, but never like this, never in such a large exhibition and never with this digital content, we have created something special for WA, it really shows what we're capable of.' The Terracotta Army dates back to 246 BCE, when Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, had 700,000 people build him a 49sqkm mausoleum along with an army of more than 8000 clay warriors to defend his tomb forever. His tomb remains unopened, but ancient historians have described it as a vast underground kingdom with streams of mercury and deadly booby traps. The Terracotta Warriors were discovered by farmers in Lintong County, China, in 1974 and over recent years have featured in exhibitions at some of the world's greatest museums. Mr Cole told The Sunday Times 70 per cent of the artefacts in Perth have never been to Australia before and 40 per cent have never left China. The 10 life-size clay sculptures — the maximum number permitted to leave China — 225 relics and the virtual tomb tour will remain at Boola Bardip until February. Each warrior — hand-crafted to each have a uniquely modelled face, weighing up to 180kg and standing at 180cm tall — was transported to Perth via a Cathay Pacific flight from Beijing. Rare gold ornaments, bronze vessels, ancient chariots, gilded belt hooks and painted cavalry figures are among some of the newly unearthed relics that have never been on display before. Mr Cole said he expected a bronze swan, cast using the ancient lost-wax method, to be a crowd favourite. 'Walking into the exhibition I hope people will firstly see that the opening section is a very immersive,' he said. 'It will transport them to China, to ancient China, and give them a sense of the context of the exhibition. 'Then as they proceed through they will see some of the most wonderful artefacts, many of which have never been seen outside of China before. 'Visitors will get the chance to engage and interact with replicas ... and then of course they will see the warrior figures themselves in all their glory. 'There will also be an animated wall of the warriors, as to if they came to life ... people will be able to use a digital touchpad to colour the warriors.' And there is also a little surprise in store. 'The digital tomb experience we created, well, who knows what the contents of it might be, only time will tell if we've got it right,' Mr Cole said. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre and the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Museum. It is estimated to be a money spinner for the State, predicted to bring some $45 million into Perth from overseas visitors. 'We're expecting people from the east coast and from overseas,' Mr Cole said. 'Our main marketing campaign is not even up yet, but we've already sold tickets to people overseas who want to come and see this because it's going to be so unique.' Eight warrior sculptures came to Australia in 2019 for the National Gallery of Victoria's show Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality. Mr Cole — who has worked at the museum for more than 15 years — and said that 'Western Australia has every right to see the best and the most brilliant international exhibitions as anyone else in the world'. 'We are very committed to making sure that WA gets the chance to see these things as well,' he said. Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said the digital immersion and multi-media component of the exhibition 'is like no other'. 'This is a great opportunity for the Western Australian public to come and see this exhibition and be immersed in the history of China's first emperor and be transported back more than 2000 years,' Ms McGurk said. For the first time ever, the museum is offering season passes for $90 allowing visitors to return as often as they like throughout the entire exhibition run. General admission is $30 for adults and $15 for kids aged five to 15. The exhibition closes next year on February 22.
Perth Now
21-06-2025
- Perth Now
Hundreds of Chinese relics and statues hit WA in world first
Perth is preparing to host the 'eighth wonder of the world'. The world-famous Chinese Terracotta Warriors have marched their way to WA Museum Boola Bardip, where they are taking up residence from June 28 for the next seven months. From next Saturday Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor will transport people back to ancient China and shine a light on emperor Qin Shi Huang thanks to some never-seen-before artefacts along with a virtual tour of his unopened tomb. 'For me, this is the eighth wonder of the world,' WA Museum Boola Bardip executive officer Alec Cole said. 'Warrior figures have been to Australia before, but never like this, never in such a large exhibition and never with this digital content, we have created something special for WA, it really shows what we're capable of.' The largest display of Chinese Terracotta Warriors is being staged in Perth alongside a virtual tour of an emperor's unopened tomb in an exclusive exhibition where never-seen-before artefacts will be on show. Credit: Supplied;Robyn Ambrosius The Terracotta Army dates back to 246 BCE, when Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, had 700,000 people build him a 49sqkm mausoleum along with an army of more than 8000 clay warriors to defend his tomb forever. His tomb remains unopened, but ancient historians have described it as a vast underground kingdom with streams of mercury and deadly booby traps. The Terracotta Warriors were discovered by farmers in Lintong County, China, in 1974 and over recent years have featured in exhibitions at some of the world's greatest museums. Mr Cole told The Sunday Times 70 per cent of the artefacts in Perth have never been to Australia before and 40 per cent have never left China. The 10 life-size clay sculptures — the maximum number permitted to leave China — 225 relics and the virtual tomb tour will remain at Boola Bardip until February. Each warrior — hand-crafted to each have a uniquely modelled face, weighing up to 180kg and standing at 180cm tall — was transported to Perth via a Cathay Pacific flight from Beijing. The largest display of Chinese Terracotta Warriors is being staged in Perth alongside a virtual tour of an emperor's unopened tomb in an exclusive exhibition where never-seen-before artefacts will be on show. Credit: Supplied / Alamy Stock Photo Rare gold ornaments, bronze vessels, ancient chariots, gilded belt hooks and painted cavalry figures are among some of the newly unearthed relics that have never been on display before. Mr Cole said he expected a bronze swan, cast using the ancient lost-wax method, to be a crowd favourite. 'Walking into the exhibition I hope people will firstly see that the opening section is a very immersive,' he said. 'It will transport them to China, to ancient China, and give them a sense of the context of the exhibition. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian, WA Museum Director Alec Coles for STM profile story on the man who made the new museum happen in Perth. 'Then as they proceed through they will see some of the most wonderful artefacts, many of which have never been seen outside of China before. 'Visitors will get the chance to engage and interact with replicas ... and then of course they will see the warrior figures themselves in all their glory. 'There will also be an animated wall of the warriors, as to if they came to life ... people will be able to use a digital touchpad to colour the warriors.' And there is also a little surprise in store. 'The digital tomb experience we created, well, who knows what the contents of it might be, only time will tell if we've got it right,' Mr Cole said. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre and the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum Museum. It is estimated to be a money spinner for the State, predicted to bring some $45 million into Perth from overseas visitors. 'We're expecting people from the east coast and from overseas,' Mr Cole said. 'Our main marketing campaign is not even up yet, but we've already sold tickets to people overseas who want to come and see this because it's going to be so unique.' Eight warrior sculptures came to Australia in 2019 for the National Gallery of Victoria's show Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality. Mr Cole — who has worked at the museum for more than 15 years — and said that 'Western Australia has every right to see the best and the most brilliant international exhibitions as anyone else in the world'. 'We are very committed to making sure that WA gets the chance to see these things as well,' he said. Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk said the digital immersion and multi-media component of the exhibition 'is like no other'. 'This is a great opportunity for the Western Australian public to come and see this exhibition and be immersed in the history of China's first emperor and be transported back more than 2000 years,' Ms McGurk said. For the first time ever, the museum is offering season passes for $90 allowing visitors to return as often as they like throughout the entire exhibition run. General admission is $30 for adults and $15 for kids aged five to 15. The exhibition closes next year on February 22.
The Age
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Stage set for global exclusive exhibition at Perth museum
It's a story of emperors and empresses, soldiers and warriors, and everyday members of society – a story that transcends time and place. That is how the curator of the Perth Museum Boola Bardip's upcoming global exclusive exhibition has described it – and it's one she feels 'complete excitement' about. Tonia Eckfeld has worked in China for decades, at universities and making historical documentaries, and specialises in Chinese emperors and the significance of their tombs. She was the perfect choice to help curate the WA Museum Boola Bardip's Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor, the largest and most complex exhibition the state has ever seen. It will feature 230 artefacts, including eight of the famed terracotta warriors themselves. Some of those artefacts were only recently unearthed. Just under half the pieces that will be on display have never left China and 90 per cent have never been displayed in Australia. The museum is predicting more than 180,000 visitors will stream through the exhibition to catch a glimpse, with at least 60,000 being interstate or international tourists. Eckfeld said she was able to look at each piece and not only imagine it in its original context, but see its enduring relevance. 'The exhibition focuses on Qin Shihuang as probably the most iconic figure in Chinese history, but it also focuses on his rise to power, and the aftermath of his reign,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Stage set for global exclusive exhibition at Perth museum
It's a story of emperors and empresses, soldiers and warriors, and everyday members of society – a story that transcends time and place. That is how the curator of the Perth Museum Boola Bardip's upcoming global exclusive exhibition has described it – and it's one she feels 'complete excitement' about. Tonia Eckfeld has worked in China for decades, at universities and making historical documentaries, and specialises in Chinese emperors and the significance of their tombs. She was the perfect choice to help curate the WA Museum Boola Bardip's Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor, the largest and most complex exhibition the state has ever seen. It will feature 230 artefacts, including eight of the famed terracotta warriors themselves. Some of those artefacts were only recently unearthed. Just under half the pieces that will be on display have never left China and 90 per cent have never been displayed in Australia. The museum is predicting more than 180,000 visitors will stream through the exhibition to catch a glimpse, with at least 60,000 being interstate or international tourists. Eckfeld said she was able to look at each piece and not only imagine it in its original context, but see its enduring relevance. 'The exhibition focuses on Qin Shihuang as probably the most iconic figure in Chinese history, but it also focuses on his rise to power, and the aftermath of his reign,' she said.
