Art by Jenifer K Wofford

Presentation: Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art

with Asian Art Museum
Tuesday, 5/19/2026
6:30 - 7:30
Virtual Library

United States

Register

Bats, gourds, peaches, ribbons and monkeys on horses: these images are frequently (and creatively) depicted in Chinese art — but what do they mean? Just as the Chinese language is an exquisite conduit for rebuses (visual puns) and symbolism, motifs that appear in Chinese art often represent wishes for good fortune. Join us as we decipher hidden messages of prosperity, health and happiness found in traditional Chinese art using selected objects from the Asian Art Museum’s collection. Speaker: Linda Lei. 

This event is a partnership with the Asian Art Museum Docent Program.

 

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Weaving Stories: Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Interest

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Weaving Stories is the Library's celebration of the many diverse histories and cultures from AANHPI communities.

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This program is sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Attending Programs

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This program will be conducted in English unless otherwise noted.

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The views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.