Amidst their lives: People of various ages

Amidst their lives: People of various ages

Fresh Perspectives on the Orient: A New Era at the Museum of Oriental Art with Shao-Lan Hertel

Keeping Pace in the Aachener Weiher

The Museum of Oriental Art (MOK) is stepping into a revitalized phase under the dynamic leadership of its new director, Shao-Lan Hertel.

Feb 14, 2025 | Dagmar Behr | Issue 2/2025

Going toe-to-toe with the past, the MOK, once a neglected gem stuck in the Aachener Weiher's distribution of funds among Cologne's museums, is now under the vigilant gaze of its new scientific director. Although the job requires a good dose of energy, Shao-Lan Hertel seems ready to embrace the challenge. Her packed schedule hints at an adventurous journey ahead, setting her sights on a majestic special exhibition on East Asian architecture, slated for the 50th anniversary of the museum's move to its current location.

A former professor at the Free University of Berlin and a seasoned global traveler with research stays in China, Shao-Lan Hertel knew she was diving headfirst into a significant legacy. Her scope encompassed not only her predecessor but also Roger Goepper, who had guided the museum during its relocation in 1977.

In Cologne, the MOK remains shrouded in mystery. Recognizing the need for visibility, Shao-Lan Hertel aims to cater to a more diverse audience than in the museum's early days. To ignite curiosity, she organized techno performances at the Museum Night 2023 and featured Korean-Spanish painter Helena Parada Kim's self-curated exhibition, showcasing the artist's unique fusion of Eastern and Western traditions.

The museum's anticipated exhibition calendar promises a plethora of captivating displays, notably the woodblock prints of Tanaka Ryohei in April, followed by the works of Chinese artist Jianfeng Pan, who reimagines traditional Chinese writing and painting styles in a universal visual language. Hertel, who earned her doctoral degree under Pan's tutelage, is eager to explore the dynamic interplay between the East and the West or the past and the present.

In May, a consecration ceremony of Buddhist deities, led by monks from a Seoul temple, will launch an exhibition of Korean artifacts related to Buddhism. Another upcoming focus will be the "Ming Myth," a study on the history and influence of the famous blue-and-white porcelain from the Ming period.

Hertel's vision extends beyond Cologne's confines, envisioning the MOK as a hub for regional discovery and global academic exchange. To further unearth the treasures lurking in the museum's collection, a foundation has funded a year-long project for two visiting researchers, diligently investigating the Goryeo Dynasty Seladon ceramics and their provenance. As the museum's website undergoes a relaunch, the captivating stories behind Maebyeong vases, plum blossom vases, and their fascinating journey from 12th-century Korea to the MOK are expected to unfold.

Transparency, a cornerstone of Hertel's vision, has prompted the digitization of the travel diaries of Adolf and Frieda Fischer. Their expeditions to Japan and Formosa (now Taiwan) from 1897 to 1899 are showcased in the ongoing "Streifzüge" exhibition.

Not long after Hertel's appointment, the MOK found itself in the limelight for a more unfortunate reason when nine precious Chinese porcelains were stolen. Despite reinforced security measures, thieves took advantage of a delay in the production of higher resistance class materials to make off with their loot. The city of Cologne was insured for 1.3 million euros, but the MOK received none of the payout. Though Hertel declined to comment, murmurs echoed from the museum's support association regarding this decision.

As the year unfolds, the MOK plans to delve into the symbolic power of the "Year of the Horse" in the Chinese lunar calendar. Artworks from the museum's collection will be showcased to explore the horse's cross-cultural significance.

Long-term, the MOK has ambitious plans to collaborate with the Museum Schnütgen and the Hessian State Museum Darmstadt, with a focus on the dragon from both Western and global perspectives. This exhibition is slated for Cologne in 2027 within the special exhibition area of the Kulturzentrum am Neumarkt.

Anne Fischer, who shares joint directorial duties with the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum and the Museum for Oriental Art since January 2023, focuses primarily on business management planning. Her art historical experience should undoubtedly benefit the two museums in their shared journey of discovery.

1. Shao-Lan Hertel's vision for the Museum of Oriental Art (MOK) includes reaching beyond tradition and catering to a diverse audience, as evidenced by her organization of techno performances and multicultural art exhibitions.
2. The MOK's upcoming calendar features captivating displays, such as woodblock prints of Tanaka Ryohei, the works of Chinese artist Jianfeng Pan, an exhibition of Korean artifacts related to Buddhism, and a study on the "Ming Myth."
3. In alignment with her focus on transparency, Shao-Lan Hertel has initiated the digitization of the travel diaries of Adolf and Frieda Fischer, providing a glimpse into their 1897-1899 expeditions to Japan and Formosa.
4. In an effort to foster academic exchange, Shao-Lan Hertel is spearheading a project for two visiting researchers to investigate the provenance of Goryeo Dynasty Seladon ceramics in the museum's collection.
5. Pursuing the cross-cultural exploration of the dragon, the MOK has plans to collaborate with the Museum Schnütgen and the Hessian State Museum Darmstadt for an exhibition on the dragon in 2027.
6. Shao-Lan Hertel's leadership at the MOK also extends to personal growth and career development, as reflected in her meaningful initiatives to enhance the museum's reputation, audience engagement, and scholarly research capabilities.

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