VICTORIA, BC.- With the second most comprehensive East Asian arts collection in Canada, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria continues to receive incredible donations of Asian art. The AGGV displaying 150 recent acquisitions for the first time, all never-before-exhibited pieces, from November 27 to April 3, 2016, in the AGGV’s Founders Gallery. AGGV’s Curator of Asian Art, Barry Till, will offer a tour of the exhibition on Jan. 13, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.

“Recent Asian Arts Acquisitions is a selection of about twenty per cent of the pieces that were generously donated in the past four years,” says Till. “We are grateful to show Chinese and Japanese ceramics from the estate of James and Joanna Davidson, Japanese Zen paintings donated by Judith Patt and Samurai artifacts donated by Trevor Absolon, to name a few.”

The pieces have been donated from individuals across North America, and represent a wide range of cultures, media and time periods. A highly acclaimed woodblock print by Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) illustrates couples from different countries in their national dress, including the Meiji emperor and empress and couples from America, Russia, Africa, Arabia, China, Japan, Britain, India, Korea and France. The piece, titled Japanese Mirror of National Costumes of All Nations, was purchased with funds provided by Gloria and Ian Back.

“Patronage of the arts is a very noble act,” said Till. “The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria continues to receive a wealth of Asian Art donations. We are indeed fortunate in having great and dedicated patrons in Victoria and across the country. This exhibition is in their honour.”

The AGGV Asian Art collection currently accounts for nearly 50 per cent of the Gallery’s entire collection. Recent Asian acquisitions are honoured with an exhibition approximately every few years.