Shuo Hua: The Language of Flowers and Plants in Chinese Art

Shuo hua 說話 means “to speak” in Chinese but the homonym hua 花 means “flower.” This play on words draws attention to the symbolic meanings associated with many plants in China. Our spring exhibition of Chinese traditional and contemporary works of art explores the imagery and meaning of depictions of bamboo, peonies, plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums, lotus, and pines, many of which grace the Hammond’s Japanese Stroll Garden.

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