Art Study Center Seminar: Gray Area—Ethical Considerations in the Early Collecting of Asian Art at Harvard

This event requires registration; see further details below.

In 1923–24, Fogg Museum curator Langdon Warner led the First Fogg Expedition to China, returning with fragmentary artworks removed from the Mogao Caves in northwestern China. Today, the collection is filled with these and other materials that have been separated from their archaeological context. In this seminar, curator Sarah Laursen will share a selection of painting and sculptural fragments and lead a discussion about patronage, provenance, and the ethics of early collecting of Asian art at Harvard.

This talk is part of Gray Area, a new series that features members of our curatorial staff exploring artworks that capture the complexities of humanity, political landscapes, ethics, ideologies, power dynamics, and critical thinking in our times. Through this series, we hope to encourage people to observe and consider their own individual gray areas, and to think about how their unique experiences guide the choices they make. In the lead-up to the U.S. national election in November, we invite you to journey through the intersection of decision making, art, and civic engagement.

Led by:
Sarah Laursen, Alan J. Dworsky Curator of Chinese Art

Free admission, but registration is required. You can register by clicking on the event on this form, beginning on Saturday, October 12.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the program to allow sufficient time to sign in at the Art Study Center reception desk (Level 4), and be prepared to present a photo ID. All coats and bags must be placed in a locker prior to entering the study room. Children age 14 and older are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

The Harvard Art Museums offer free admission every day, Tuesday through Sunday. Please see the museum visit page to learn about our general policies for visiting the museums.

The Harvard Art Museums are committed to accessibility for all visitors. For anyone requiring accessibility accommodations for our programs, please contact us at am_register@harvard.edu at least 48 hours in advance.