Flower Power: The Meaning of Flowers In Asian Art

During the Summer of Love, flowers became a powerful symbol of peace — a concept plucked from Buddhist art. More than merely decorative, botanical imagery has helped convey ideas from the refined to the revolutionary for thousands of years. Flower Power commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love by uncovering the hidden meanings of flowers in Asian art.

In the exhibition catalogue, curator Dany Chan explains the symbolism of six flowers commonly found in Asian art — lotus, plum, cherry, tulip, rose and chrysanthemum — using a range of works from the museum collection, including Japanese kimono, Korean lacquerware, Chinese porcelains, Turkish ceramics, Indian miniatures, Mughal carpets, Persian calligraphy and more. The catalogue also includes a consideration of contemporary installation works that use the language of flowers speak to today’s issues, from climate change to social activism.

Additional information:

• Author: Dany Chan, assistant curator, exhibition projects
• Foreword by Director Jay Xu
• Size: 8 ¼  x 10 inches
• Full-color illustrations
• Pages: 128
• Paperback
• Publication date: June 2017