On November 11, the special exhibition "Integrating the Past and the Present: Retro and Innovation in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Bronze Ware," co-curated for the first time by the Shanghai Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, opened in Shanghai. Max Hollein, Director and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, also made a special trip to Shanghai to attend the opening ceremony.
Speaking about the exhibition attracting 300,000 visitors in New York, he said in an interview with The Paper: “We have spent decades cultivating this audience. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has many important galleries dedicated to Chinese art. We knew the exhibition would generate some response, but we were surprised by the audience’s excitement at discovering new things. I think this also reflects the feeling that an interesting museum visit can bring.”
"Amazing!" On the afternoon of November 11, in the first special exhibition hall of the East Wing of the Shanghai Museum, Max Hollein, director and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, frequently took photos with his mobile phone and exclaimed in admiration as he faced the exquisite cultural relics and innovative exhibition.
Max Hollein, Director and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in the exhibition hall
The special exhibition "Integrating the Past and Embracing the New: Retro and Innovation in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Bronze Ware," which was co-curated by the two museums for the first time, was held in New York and received an enthusiastic response, attracting 300,000 visitors. Mr. Max Hollein, who came to attend the opening ceremony, took a break and visited the exhibition hall as soon as he arrived at the East Building.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection includes a Ming Dynasty goose-shaped bronze incense burner.
Although time was tight and he was inevitably in a hurry, when he arrived at their "star" collection—a Ming Dynasty goose-shaped bronze incense burner—it felt like meeting an old friend in a foreign land. He didn't forget to take photos and stop to admire it. After visiting the exhibition, he also took a group photo with Lu Pengliang, the Chief Fellow of Chinese Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and He Muwen, the Head of the Asian Department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in front of the exhibition title at the entrance of the gallery.
The three took a group photo in the exhibition hall.
“These bronzes are often considered imitations of excellent ancient Chinese bronzes, lacking any real merit. Holding an exhibition like this can offer new understandings, new appreciations, and new academic research. It's not just about sharing something new with the audience, but also about ensuring that the art of this period receives the recognition it deserves,” said Max Hollein. He added that the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Shanghai Museum have a long history of collaboration, a testament to their enduring friendship, cooperation, and respect. This exhibition is a testament to the deep friendship between the two institutions spanning over 40 years.
He also revealed that the Metropolitan Museum of Art will have another exciting collaborative project with the Shanghai Museum next year.
Conversation: Max Hollein, Director and CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Paper: The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a very rich collection of Chinese art. Why did you choose to focus on the theme of "Late Bronze" in China? Because this is not a key period in the history of Chinese bronze ware. As you said, it is often overlooked.
Max Hollein: I believe the exhibition offers new understandings, new appreciations, and new academic research. I think this exhibition achieves all of these things. By focusing on outstanding artistic achievements and fields that have been overlooked in some ways until now, we are not only sharing something new with the audience, but we are also trying to give the art of this period the recognition it deserves.
Exhibition photo of "Melting the Past and Casting the New: A Special Exhibition of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Bronze Ware," on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from February 28 to September 28, 2025. Photographer: Paul Lachenauer. @Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Paper: This exhibition was very well received when it was shown at your museum, attracting many visitors. Do you think this met your initial expectations?
Max Hollein: American audiences are very interested in Chinese art. We've spent decades cultivating this audience. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has many important galleries dedicated to Chinese art. Therefore, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds exhibitions on Chinese art and culture, audience expectations are high, and their enthusiasm for seeing and experiencing them is also very high. We knew the exhibitions would generate a certain response, but we were surprised by the audience's excitement at discovering new things. I think this also reflects the feeling that an enjoyable museum visit can bring.
The Shanghai Museum's "Integrating the Past and Present: Retro and Innovation in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Bronze Ware" exhibition hall
The Paper: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Shanghai Museum have a very long-standing collaborative relationship. Their collaboration dates back more than 40 years to the early 1980s, when the Shanghai Museum participated in the Metropolitan Museum's "The Great Bronze Age" exhibition. As the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, how do you view the image and development of the Shanghai Museum?
Max Hollein: The Shanghai Museum is an outstanding museum in the world. It is a great institution for the study of Chinese art, and in terms of its professionalism, especially now with the Shanghai Museum East Branch, I believe it is one of the world's top museums. We are delighted to collaborate with the Shanghai Museum. We have been honored to work with the Shanghai Museum for many years. It is an institutional friendship; we are colleagues who respect and value each other. We have completed many important projects together in the past, and we will continue to do so in the future.
The Shanghai Museum's "Integrating the Past and Present: Retro and Innovation in Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Bronze Ware" exhibition hall
The Paper: Actually, your museum has developed a lot over the past 40 years. So, what aspects will remain unchanged, and what are your thoughts on that?
Max Hollein: I'm simply reflecting on how our understanding of Asian culture has changed. In the 1970s, we might have had only two or three galleries showcasing Asian art; now we have 54. This not only demonstrates the expansion of our collection but also a significant increase in our understanding and appreciation of Asian art. It is precisely this comprehensive acceptance and deep understanding of Asian art, especially Chinese art, that has made us the more globally influential institution we are today.
The Paper Art: After visiting the Shanghai Museum, do you have any other travel plans in China?
Max Hollein: Not this time, I'll only be in Shanghai. We'll be having an exhibition in Seoul in a few days. But I came to China specifically for Shanghai.
The Paper: What do you personally miss most about Shanghai?
Max Hollein: Since we arrived, we've felt incredibly warmly welcomed, and our friends have been very welcoming. We've had two lunches, two dinners, and two breakfasts. So, I'll definitely be much heavier when I go back to New York, but I'll also have wonderful memories of Shanghai's amazing art, culture, and food.
