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The Ringling to Host Expert on Hard Bodies Contemporary Japanese Lacquer Sculpture: A Short History Contact Name: Virginia Harshman Contact Email: virginia.harshman@ringling.org Contact Phone Number: 9413595700 Sarasota, Florida- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to welcome Dr. Andreas Marks for a special lecture event as he discusses contemporary Japanese lacquer sculpture Dec. 4 at 10:30 a.m. The talk is being held in conjunction with the exhibition Hard Bodies: Contemporary Japanese Lacquer Sculpture, currently on view in the museum’s Searing Wing. The toxic sap from the lacquer tree has been used to make objects resilient and beautiful in East Asia for several thousand years. Until the modern period, lacquer was principally used for articles for daily or ceremonial use and presentation, such as wine vessels and document cases. In the early 1950s, artists revolutionized this utilitarian tradition by creating the first sculptures made from lacquer. The subject of a new exhibition, a small but enterprising circle of artists, all born since 1959, has pushed the medium in entirely new directions by creating conceptually innovative, large-scale works that superbly exploit the natural characteristics of this medium. Andreas Marks studied East Asian Art History at the University of Bonn and obtained his Ph.D. in Japanese Studies from Leiden University. From 2008 to 2013 he was director and chief curator of the Clark Center for Japanese Art in Hanford, California, and since 2013 has been Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese and Korean Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. He is the author of TASCHEN’s "Hiroshige & Eisen: The Sixty-Nine Stations along the Kisokaido" and "Japanese Woodblock Prints (1680–1938)." His 17th book, "Hokusai: Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," came out in summer. This program will be offered in person in the Chao Lecture Hall and is also available virtually through ZOOM. Tickets are $5.00 and admission is free for museum members. More information may be found at https://www.ringling.org/events/contemporary-japanese-lacquer-sculpture-short-history ### About The Ringling The Ringling is a pre-eminent center for the arts, history and learning that is dedicated to bringing the past and contemporary culture to life through extraordinary visitor experiences. From its inception, The Ringling has joined the diverse visual traditions and theatrical spectacle of yesterday with the genre-defying global practitioners of today. A place of exploration, discovery and respite, The Ringling’s campus in Sarasota, Florida – which includes the Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, an historic mansion, an 18th-century theater and bayfront gardens – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As the State Art Museum of Florida and part of Florida State University, The Ringling fulfills an important educational mission. The Ringling offers formal and informal programs of study serving as a major resource for students, scholars, and lifelong learners of every age within the region, across the country and around the world. Media Contacts: The Ringling Virginia Harshman Manager, Marketing and Public Relations 941-359-5700 x2803 Virginia.harshman@ringling.org