The Art of Chinese Bamboo Carving: The Collection of Brian McElney at the Museum of East Asian Art
The Brian McElney Memorial Lecture
Speaker: Dr Ivy Yi Yan Chan
The Museum of East Asian Art in Bath holds an important collection of Chinese bamboo carvings assembled by its founder Brian McElney (1932-2023) – a British lawyer born in Hong Kong who spent much of his life working and collecting there. McElney developed an interest in bamboo carving in the mid-1970s, at a time when connoisseurs such as Dr Ip Yee and Wang Shixiang organised seminal exhibitions to promote wider appreciation of this under-researched art form.
Dedicated to the memory of Brian McElney – a longstanding supporter of the OCS, the first non-Chinese member invited to join the Min Chiu Society, and a co-founder of the OCS of Hong Kong – this lecture re-examines the museum’s Chinese bamboo collection, uncovering masterpieces of bamboo carving as well as hidden stories of collecting.
The OCS is grateful for the support of the late Brian McElney, whose generous bequest has enabled this lecture to take place.
Members do not need to book to attend this lecture.
5:30 pm – Society of Antiquaries opens for members’ refreshments
6:15 pm – Lecture begins
Venue Accessibility Information
The Society of Antiquaries welcomes wheelchairs and mobility vehicles however since the main entrance consists of steps they will provide a ramp. Essential companions are also welcome and Hearing Loops are built into the Lecture Room AV system. There are no designated disabled toilets but toilets are located on the ground floor.
For more information visit Accessibility.
For all other accessibility enquires contact
Image: © Museum of East Asian Art
Speaker
Dr Ivy Yi Yan ChanDr Ivy Yi Yan Chan is an art historian, curator and consultant specialising in Chinese art and collecting histories. She currently lectures on the MA in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and co-convenes the Arts of China module at the SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art at SOAS. She also serves as Curatorial Consultant to the Museum of East Asian Art in Bath, where she recently curated their 30th anniversary exhibition From Hong Kong to Bath: A Lifelong Journey of Collecting held in 2023-2024. Ivy holds a PhD in History of Art and Archaeology from SOAS and has authored and translated numerous publications related to Chinese art and culture.
