Made in China - outfit
From 17-10-2025

Made in China

A new exhibition on the present and past of Chinese craftsmanship, starting 17 October 2025

What does the label “Made in China” mean? In this exhibition, you will delve into China's rich and diverse manufacturing culture: from thousands of years of craftsmanship to contemporary art and design. Wereldmuseum presents an inspiring mix of objects, artworks, fashion, photography, videos, interviews with makers and interactive maps that together tell a multifaceted story about Chinese craftsmanship, then and now.

A Long Tradition of Making

China has a remarkable history of making – from delicate porcelain and lustrous silk to lacquerware, jade, and glass. These materials have been skillfully and precisely crafted by craftsmen, artists, and designers over the centuries.

In Made in China, you’ll discover key moments and highlights from this history. For example, a 4,500-year-old storage jar is on display – a tangible symbol of the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Interactive maps show how trade routes like the Silk Roads evolved into today's Belt and Road Initiative.

Een vaas

Craftsmanship in Motion

The exhibition doesn’t just focus on the past. It also highlights how today’s creators engage with tradition, identity, and change. Artists and designers such as Cao Fei, Susan Fang, Yang Yongliang, Jing He, Chen Hangfeng, Ma Ke, and Feng Chen Wang show how Chinese craftsmanship continues to evolve.

Expect to see an innovative suit bearing the label ‘Made in China’ by Feng Chen Wang, and a sustainable dress by Susan Fang. The award-winning video game Black Myth: Wukong also features in the exhibition, alongside work by Chinese-Dutch artist Ting Wong. You'll find surprising fashion, experimental jewelry, sustainable design, contemporary porcelain, glass, and photography – all prompting reflection on what ‘Made in China’ means today.

Een jas

The Art of Copying

Made in China explores the meaning of imitation and copying from Chinese perspectives. In Chinese culture, there has traditionally been no strict separation between original and copy – and there is no judgment attached.

Copying can lead to innovation and allows more people access to art and ideas. A great example is the so-called mubanshuiyinhua (woodblock-printed paintings). This unique technique emerged in the last century and uses hundreds of wooden printing blocks and specialists from various disciplines to create highly detailed reproductions of traditional Chinese ink paintings.

Kunstinstallatie

Mass Production

Copying and mass production are often what people first associate with ‘Made in China.’ But this phenomenon has a much older history. China has been producing on a large scale for over 3,000 years. A well-known example is the thousands of Terracotta Warriors made for the First Emperor. The exhibition features impressive reconstructions of these figures – created using authentic techniques, materials, and colors.

Chinese calligraphy also shows how repetition can be used creatively and systematically to produce thousands of unique characters. A digital interactive allows visitors to experiment with these characters themselves.

At the same time, the history of mass production is not only positive. It is also a story of resource depletion, environmental pollution and human exploitation. The exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on who pays the price of cheap production and its impact on people and the planet, featuring, among other things, examples of so-called migrant worker poetry.

Interactive

Visit the Exhibition

Made in China will be on view at Wereldmuseum Amsterdam from 17 October 2025. Book your tickets online now and receive up to 15% discount.

Made in China was previously on display at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam until 31 August 2025.