Folklore & Mythology

Leta Bushyhead, Asian Art Museum Storyteller, tells a Chinese folktale inspired by objects in the museum’s collection.

Digitized from VHS, this video re-tells a popular Korean folktale using a painted Korean screen from the collection of the Asian Art Museum.

Paul Hoover reads a poem he wrote in response to the works “Anonymity,” 2008-2011 (eight from a series of nine light boxes) by Poklong Anading and Chinese bronze mirrors (from the Asian Art Museum’s collection). These works are on view as part of the exhibition Phantoms of Asia: Contemporary Awakens the Past (on view at the Asian Art Museum from May 18–September 2, 2012). This presentation was part of MATCHA. Co-presented with Litquake.

Karasu Tengu (crowlike deity) mask, approx. 1800-1850. Japan. Netsuke; ivory with dark detail staining, inlaid metal. The Avery Brundage Collection, B70Y811.

Asian Art Museum Storyteller, Leta Busyhead, tells a story about Cyrus the Great and the Cyrus Cylinder in the Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia exhibition at the Asian Art Museum (August 9–September 22, 2013).

Hexagonal kettle (kama) with design of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, by Seishin (Japanese), approx. 1500–1700. Japan; Kyoto. Iron, copper alloys. The Avery Brundage Collection, B69M11.A-.B.

Asian Art Museum Storyteller, Liz Nichols, tells a Japanese story about Amaterasu, the sun goddess, in the museum’s Japan galleries.

Watch a Lunar New Year story about a beast named Nian.

Students use visual evidence to convey character by constructing a visual identity for their shadow puppet, and demonstrate principles of shadow-casting and puppet-making by performing their shadow play.