Chinese Bells: Ancient Sounds in a Southern Land
An interactive exhibition exploring the ancient ‘nao’ bell through the research and life’s-journey of Dr Anton Hassell.
The Chinese ‘nao’ bell is believed to be one of the earliest forms of bell produced in the world. These ancient bells, often made from bronze are now particularly rare, with only a few of the earliest examples still in existence. Due to their significance and fragility, these historic bells are unable to be rung or heard. Today it is through replicas that we can experience the music of these bells.
The replica bells featured in this exhibition were created by local researcher and bell maker Dr. Anton Hasell through his company Australian Bell and are a result of decades of study into traditional bell construction methods and exploring how to integrate these practices with modern materials and technologies. His research has particularly focused on the form of the elliptical bell and its sound mechanism, using modern technologies to improve the musicality of this bell form, and bringing this ancient musical tradition into the modern world.
Learn more about these wonderful bells and their fascinating history as you also enjoy their sounds and melodious tones.
Changing Times: Posters From the Stuart E Fraser Collection is an exhibition featuring Chinese propaganda posters from the 1960s to 1980s from La Trobe University’s Stuart E Fraser Poster Collection.
Mostly political in nature, the posters promote views on issues such as civic duty, public health, community life and unity. Emeritus Professor Stewart Fraser (1929–2001) was founder of La Trobe University’s School of Education, and Chair of Education in the Centre for Comparative and International Studies in Education. He was born and spent much of his childhood in Tianjin, China, and was educated at the Universities of Melbourne, Oxford, Stanford, Colorado and London. Fraser acquired the posters during visits to China in the 1970s onwards, at a time when poster art in China was flourishing, embracing a wider range of styles and subject matter than ever before.
1. Image credit: Chen Ming, People and fish jump for joy, 1978. La Trobe University Stuart E Fraser Collection.
2. Image credit: Jiang Nanchun, Talking by video phone, 1980. La Trobe University Stuart E Fraser Collection.
Golden Dragon Museum’s Collection Redevelopment Project has been a key driver in our work to best care for, store and research our world-leading Collection.
In Highly Commending the Project, the judges at the recent Awards recognised this in their citation:
The judges commended this project as a remarkable two-year initiative that brings new life to the museum’s significant collection, particularly important to the Chinese community in Australia. By prioritising collection redevelopment and access, the museum has shown impressive innovation, despite limited funding. It not only enhances the preservation of cultural history but also engages interns and students, ensuring that its positive impact will be felt for years to come.
The Museum thanks the City of Greater Bendigo and Helen Macpherson Smith Trust for their support of this Project.
Photo credit: Jess White Photography