MUGHAL. A kingfisher, c. 1610 India, opaque watercolour on paper, 11.0 x 20.1 cm (image and sheet). National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Felton Bequest, 1978

Whether mythical or real, characters from legend and literature or prized beasts in royal stables, animals have been depicted by Asian artists for thousands of years.

A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria will take a fun look at the use of animals in Asian art. Opening on 17 October, The cricket and the dragon: Animals in Asian Art explores the representation of animals across the NGV’s permanent Asian Collection.

Aimed at children of all ages, The cricket and the dragon will include 120 works from South East Asia, the Himalayas, China, India, Persia and Japan.

The exhibition depicts both real and imaginary animals in a variety of media including ceramics, paintings on silk, paper and glass, woodblock prints, textiles as well as sculpture in jade, wood and ivory.

Carol Cains, Curator of Asian Art, NGV said animals play an important story telling role in Asian art.

“The cricket and the dragon: Animals in Asian Art is a fun and colourful exploration of stories and traditions and provides an insight into the rich history of artistic interpretations of the form of the animal.”

“Through the themes of spirit, air, land and water the exhibition explores the mythology and symbolism of animals in Asian art. The pairing of the cricket and the dragon illustrates the polarities and common ground found in representations of animals in Asian art,” said Ms Cains.

The mythical dragon is depicted in numerous forms across Asia and is particularly identified with China, where the five clawed dragon is the symbol of the Emperor. It is a fantastical beast combining parts of many animals, including the tiger’s claws and the snake’s body. It is also associated with the forces of nature in the form of rain and thunder and incorporates aspects of Indian snake worship.

The humble cricket is a far less theatrical creature than the dragon but it too has been portrayed by Asian artists. Like the legends of the dragon, the song of the cricket evokes an association with nature that is expressed in many depictions of animals in Asian art. It is associated with the melancholy of autumn, the season when the male cricket sings and from this association the cricket has come to symbolise impermanency and bereavement.

Dr Gerard Vaughan, Director, NGV said: “This interesting and colourful exhibition has been designed especially for children, showcasing the breadth of the NGV Asian Collection in a playful and accessible way. Of interest to everyone, it will offer new ways of understanding Asian attitudes to the depiction of animals, both in nature and in fantasy.”

This exhibition will be accompanied by multimedia, drawing and story activities as well as a free activity book for all children. An exclusive range of merchandise based on the animals depicted in the exhibition has also been developed for the NGV Shop.

The cricket and the dragon: Animals in Asian Art will be on display at NGV International from 17 October 2008 until 15 March 2009.

VIETNAMESE. Boar and lily root. c. 1960 Vietnam. colour woodblock. 10.3 x 19.2 cm (image). National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Gift of Mr and Mrs M. Salmon, 1960

Tsukioka YOSHITOSHI. The moon on Musashi Plain, (Musashinono tsuki) from the series - One hundred aspects of the moon
(Tsuki hyakustri) - 1892, Japan - National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased, 1993