Chau Chak Wing Museum Explained

Chau Chak Wing Museum
Former Names:-->
Established:[1]
Location:University Pl, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Collections:Archaeology, Art, Ethnography, Natural History
Director:Michael Dagostino[2]
Architect:Johnson Pilton Walker
Owner:University of Sydney
Car Park:-->
Website:https://www.sydney.edu.au/museum/
Nrhp:-->

The Chau Chak Wing Museum is a university museum at the University of Sydney, Australia.[3]

It was formed by the amalgamating the Nicholson Museum, the Macleay Museum, and the University Art Collection.[4] [5]

History

The collections began with the Nicholson Collection of antiquities in 1860 and continued to grow to include the Macleay Collections of natural history, ethnography, science and historic photography, and the University Art Collection. The three collections were brought together under Sydney University Museums in 2005.[6]

The museum is named after Chau Chak Wing, a Chinese-Australian businessman who donated $15 million for the building's construction in 2015.[7] Other major benefactors were Penelope Seidler, the Ian Potter Foundation and Nelson Meers Foundation. The museum was officially opened on the 18 November 2020.[8]

In September 2023 it hosted the International Council of Museums Committee for University Museums and Collections Conference, "Truth-telling through university museums and collections".[9]

The museum's collection of human remains from Egypt was featured in the second season of "Stuff the British Stole".[10]

Directors

Building

The building is located on Camperdown Campus of the University of Sydney, opposite the Main Quadrangle and Fisher Library. The building was designed by Johnson Pilton Walker.[12] The building is five-storey, with four levels of exhibition space with six main galleries: Ian Potter Gallery, Macleay Gallery, Nicholson Gallery, Penelope Gallery, Power Gallery, and the China Gallery. Indigenous Australian design features were incorporated design and landscaping of the building.[13] The forecourt incorporates a replica of a pre-invasion Aboriginal petroglyph of two wallabies originally located in Westleigh and the foyer prominently displays a Welcome to Country in the Sydney language.

Construction of the new museum was completed in 2020.

Collections

The museum has three main collections, the Macleay Collection, the Nicholson Collection, and the University of Art Collection.

Macleay Collection

The Macleay Collection is the oldest natural history collection in Australia, originating in the cabinets of Alexander Macleay, and expanding through the collecting networks of the Macleay family from Charles Darwin to Sir Stamford Raffles.[14]

It contains historically rich collections of Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Pacific Islanders' cultural material, including objects collected on the early scientific expedition, the Chevert, and those collected in the early years of anthropology at the University of Sydney.

The work of University of Sydney scientists is reflected in the collection of scientific instruments and apparatus used in research and teaching, and is part of the story of scientific practice in Australia.

The Historic Photograph Collection records life in Australia and the Pacific region, from the late 1840s to the 1960s, as captured by both commercial and amateur photographers. It includes a wide range of photographic formats, reflecting the changing technology of photography.

In addition, the Macleay Collections holds material reflecting the museum's history, including a significant library, furniture, documents and ephemera relating to the major collectors.

Nicholson Collection

The Nicholson Collection contains nearly 30,000 artefacts representing ancient cultures from the Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East and Europe.[15] Spanning from the pre-Neolithic to the late medieval period, these artefacts hold intimate stories of people’s everyday lives, ancient environments, and cultural activity for over more than 10,000 years.[16]

The collection was founded in 1860 by Sir Charles Nicholson (University Provost 1854–62) with a donation of Etruscan, Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities acquired to establish a museum, "calculated materially to promote the object[ives] for which the [The University of Sydney] was founded." (Nicholson's letter of presentation, 1860). By 1870, the University of Sydney's Museum of Antiquities included over 3,000 artefacts and had been nicknamed the Nicholsonian Museum.

Over the past 160 years, the Nicholson Collection has expanded through ambitious acquisition programs, generous donation and private bequests. International excavations in Egypt, Cyprus and the Middle East, partly sponsored by the University of Sydney have also contributed significant objects to the collection.

University Art Collection

The collection contains more than 8000 works including paintings, sculptures, photography and ceramics.[17] Among the first donors was one of its founders, Sir Charles Nicholson, who gave some 30 European paintings, tapestries and sculptures in 1865. The strength of the collection lies in Australian painting – including Indigenous art – as well as significant holdings in European and Asian art.

Current exhibitions

Past exhibitions

2024

2023

2022

2021

Awards

In 2021, the museum won the Museums and Galleries National Award (MAGNA) and two Museums Australasia Multimedia and Publication Design Awards (MAPDA).[64] The museum won the 2023 UMAC Award for its object-based learning program.[65] It is the first time the UMAC Award has been won by an Australian university.

Teaching

Internally the museum's object-based learning program aims to provide access to the collections to university students.[66] This has including increasing cross-disciplinary collaborations with parts of the university that did not traditionally engage with the collections, such as the University of Sydney Business School.[67]

Research

Egyptian-Australian community initiative

In 2022 the curators of the Nicholson Collection and our research partners from the Egypt's Dispersed Heritage Project, Heba Abd Al-Gawad and Alice Stevenson, invited members of the Egyptian-Australian community to a weekend long focus group to discuss the ways in which Egyptian heritage is interpreted and ways forward for participation.[68]

Egyptian stelae

This interdisciplinary project examines 20 ancient Egyptian stelae, made from limestone, pottery and wood that were produced and decorated between the New Kingdom (c.1500–1069 BCE) and the Ptolemaic Period (c.332–30 BCE).[69]

Excavating MacGregor

The first Administrator of British New Guinea, William MacGregor, made a significant collection of objects between 1888 and 1898, specifically for its future citizens. The aim of the project is to re-assemble and re-connect this material by 'excavating' its private and official components, focusing on the makers and traders to disentangle the social relationships embedded in the objects.[70]

Human remains research project

This research project seeks to understand better different public attitudes and responses to the display of human remains with a particular focus on museum visitors and Egyptian communities in Australia’s diaspora, in Egypt, and elsewhere.[71] [72]

The Jericho Research Project

An ongoing research project to investigate the museum's holdings from Jericho in the West Bank.[73] The collection was obtained as the Nicholson Museum was one of the financial sponsors for Kathleen Kenyon's archaeological research in the region.

Paphos Theatre Archeological Project

Ongoing excavations at the ancient theatre and surrounding environs of Nea Paphos that was the capital of Cyprus under the Ptolemaic and then Roman administrations.[74] The Paphos excavations are supported by the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens.[75]

Reconstructing museum specimen data

This project which examines trade processes to reconstruct and understand the mechanisms of natural history trade.[76]

Revision of the dottyback fish subfamily Pseudoplesiopinae

The Pseudoplesiopinae is a subfamily of small coral-reef fishes found throughout the Indo-Pacific. The study aims to determine species within the subfamily and investigate their phylogenetic relationships.[77] [78] [79]

Woodhouse Archive Flickr Project

In July 2017, the museum launched a crowdsourcing project to help identify and catalogue the Woodhouse Photographic Archive of glass-plate negatives taken in Greece during the 1890s and early 1900s.[80] [81]

Publications

The museum has published a biannual magazine, Muse, since 2012.[82] The magazine has won design awards from Museums Australia.[83]

Other publications include:

External links

-33.8853°N 151.1905°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Xiao . Alison . 24 May 2018 . University stands by donor amidst UN bribing scandal . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043020/https://honisoit.com/2018/05/university-stands-by-donor-amidst-un-bribing-scandal/ . 6 March 2019.
  2. Web site: University appoints new Director, Museums and Cultural Engagement . The University of Sydney . January 25, 2023.
  3. Web site: 2022-08-23 . A Museum in Australia Offers Special Glasses to Colour-blind Visitors . 2022-08-23 . News18 . en . AFP.
  4. Web site: $15 million donation to create new University of Sydney landmark museum . 2022-08-23 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  5. Book: Simpson, Andrew . The museums and collections of higher education . 2023 . Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group . 978-1-003-18653-3 . London ; New York, NY.
  6. Book: Ellis, David . Director's choice. Chau Chak Wing Museum. . Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers Ltd . 2020 . 9781785511134 . London.
  7. Web site: Benefactors . 2023-11-24 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  8. Web site: NSW . Museums & Galleries . Gee . Jason . 2020-11-02 . Chau Chak Wing Museum opens - MGNSW . 2024-03-07 . en-AU.
  9. Web site: Past Annual Conferences – International Council of Museums Committee for University Museums and Collections . 2024-03-07 . en-US.
  10. News: 2024-06-23 . Why this Sydney museum decided to remove mummified body parts from its display . 2024-06-29 . ABC News . en-AU.
  11. Web site: University appoints new Director, Museums and Cultural Engagement . 2024-02-24 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  12. Web site: About us . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  13. Web site: Starting over embedding First Nations principles in a new museum . 2023-11-24 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  14. Web site: Macleay Collections . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  15. Web site: Nicholson Collection . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  16. Book: Into the light: 150 years of cultural treasures at the University of Sydney . 2010 . Miegunyah Press . 978-0-522-85812-9 . Malouf . David . Carlton, Vic . Philp . Jude . Stephen . Ann . Turner . Michael . Myers . Michael . University of Sydney.
  17. Web site: University Art Collection . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  18. Web site: Ambassadors . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  19. Web site: Ancient Cultures of the Middle East . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  20. Web site: Consuelo Cavaniglia, seeing through you . 2024-06-29 . The University of Sydney . en-US.
  21. Web site: Crossroads . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  22. Web site: Hercules: Myth and Legacy . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  23. Richards . Candace . 2023-02-01 . Hercules: Myth and Legacy . en.
  24. Web site: Impressions of Greece . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  25. Web site: Instrumental 4 . 2024-08-09 . The University of Sydney . en-US.
  26. Web site: Mediterranean Identities . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  27. Richards . Candace . 2023-02-21 . Mediterranean Identities: Across the wine-dark sea . en.
  28. Web site: Micro:Macro - models of insight and inspiration . 2024-07-15 . The University of Sydney . en-US.
  29. Web site: The Egyptian Galleries . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  30. Web site: Natural Selections: animal worlds . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  31. Richards . Candace . 2021 . Pharaonic Obsessions: Ancient Egypt, an Australian Story . en.
  32. Web site: Roman Spectres . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  33. Richards . Candace . 2022 . Roman Spectres . en.
  34. Web site: Student Life: Max Dupain at the University of Sydney . 2024-08-09 . The University of Sydney . en-US.
  35. Web site: Barbara McGrady: Australia Has a Black History . 2023-11-23 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  36. Web site: Chinese Toggles: Culture in Miniature . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  37. Book: Chinese toggles: culture in miniature . Power Publications . 2024 . 978-0-909952-24-2 . Chen . Shuxia . Sydney . Kim . Min-Jung.
  38. Web site: Hayley Millar Baker Nyctinasty . 2023-11-23 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  39. Web site: Instrumental 3 . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  40. Web site: Ömie barkcloth: Pathways of nioge . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  41. Web site: Photography and the performative . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  42. Web site: The Staged Photograph . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  43. Web site: Locations . 2024-03-07 . Biennale of Sydney . en-AU.
  44. Web site: Tidal Kin . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  45. Web site: 2023-10-04 . Historical exhibit showing flourishing relationship between Pacific region and Australia . 2024-06-29 . ABC Pacific . en-AU.
  46. Web site: Australian Seashores . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  47. Web site: Coastline . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  48. Web site: D Harding with Kate Harding: Through a lens of visitation . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  49. Web site: Penelope and the Seahorse . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  50. Web site: Instrumental 2 . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  51. Web site: Object/Art/Specimen . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  52. Web site: Sentient Paper . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  53. Web site: The Sherman Gift . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  54. Web site: Animal gods . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  55. Richards . Candace . Philp . Jude . 2022 . Animal Gods: Classics and Classificiation . en.
  56. Web site: Sarah Goffman: Applied Arts . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  57. Web site: Instrumental . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  58. Web site: Kamay (Botany Bay) spears: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  59. Web site: Light & Darkness . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  60. Web site: Pacific views . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  61. Web site: The Business of Photography . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  62. Web site: Daniel Boyd: Pediment/Impediment . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  63. Web site: Gululu dhuwala Djalkiri . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  64. Web site: Chau Chak Wing Museum wins three national museum awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174650/https://www.sydney.edu.au/museum/news/2021/06/10/chau-chak-wing-museum-wins-three-national-museum-awards.html . 29 October 2021 . 12 October 2021 . University of Sydney.
  65. Web site: 2023-09-25 . UMAC Award – International Council of Museums Committee for University Museums and Collections . 2023-10-08 . en-US.
  66. Web site: Object Based Learning Program . 2024-03-25 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  67. Wardak . Dewa . Razeed . Abdul . Thogersen . Jane . Guerry . Eve . 2021 . Collaborating on a creative solution to teach creativity to Business students . Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education . Special Issue 22: Compendium of Innovative Practice . 1-6.
  68. Web site: 2022-11-11 . Initiating an Egyptian-Australian dialogue at the Chau Chak Wing Museum Egyptian Streets . 2024-03-07 . en-US.
  69. Web site: Egyptian stelae . 2024-03-07 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  70. Web site: Excavating MacGregor . 2024-03-07 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  71. Web site: Human Remains Research Project . 2024-02-27 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  72. Web site: Baker . Jordan . 2024-01-27 . Mummified body parts to be removed from Sydney museum amid intense global debate . 2024-02-27 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  73. Web site: Jericho project . 2024-02-27 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  74. Web site: Paphos theatre . 2024-03-07 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  75. Web site: Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project . 2024-03-07 . Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project . en.
  76. Web site: Reconstructing museum specimen data . 2024-03-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  77. Web site: Pseudoplesiopinae . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  78. Gill . Anthony G. . Edwards . A. J. . 1999-10-20 . Monophyly, interrelationships and description of three new genera in the dottyback fish subfamily Pseudoplesiopinae (Teleostei: Perciformes: Pseudochromidae) . Records of the Australian Museum . en . 51 . 2 . 141–160 . 10.3853/j.0067-1975.51.1999.1302 . 0067-1975.
  79. Gill . A. C. . Edwards . A. J. . 2004 . Revision of the Indian Ocean dottyback fish genera Chlidichthys and Pectinochromis (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae: Pseudoplesiopinae) . Smithiana Bulletin . en.
  80. Richards . Candace . 2023-11-23 . Unexpected legacies: The collections of classicist William J. Woodhouse (1866–1937), then and now . Journal of the History of Collections . en . 10.1093/jhc/fhad045 . 0954-6650. free .
  81. Web site: Woodhouse archive . 2023-10-08 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  82. Web site: MUSE magazine and other publications . 2024-03-07 . The University of Sydney . en-AU.
  83. Turner . Michael . 2013 . MUSE wins prestigious design award . MUSE . 5 . 1.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Chau Chak Wing Museum".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.