Located on the third floor of the National Museum of Art of Romania central building on Calea Victoriei, alongside the European Decorative Arts Gallery, the Oriental Art Gallery shows nearly 600 art objects from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Dagestan, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Japan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The pieces are selected from the most significant and valuable collection of Oriental and Far Eastern art in the country, managed by NMAR.
The creation of this new permanent exhibition, unique in Romania, is the result of a collaborative effort involving museum curators, conservators, restorers, technicians and management as well as several partners, sponsors, and donors who supported the project over time: the "Friends of NMAR" Association, JTI, BRD Groupe Societe Generale, Camelia Șucu, Raiffeisen BANK, Coca-Cola Romania, Romcar, Banca Comercială Română, Tomini Trading, TNT Romania, Solmar Trading Group, Soft Medica, Romtelecom, Unilever, Veronica Savanciuc, ITH Management Office, CitiBank Romania, Leadership Development Romania, National Bank of Romania, Topo Capital Corporation, Domeniile Sâmburești and AQUA Carpatica.
In this regard, Mrs. Veronica Savanciuc, President of the "Friends of NMAR" Association, declared:
"The opening of the Oriental Art Gallery at the National Museum of Art of Romania is a remarkable achievement and marks an important moment for our community. This new space offers the opportunity to explore and deepen our understanding of Oriental culture, facilitating a connection between diverse traditions and aesthetic visions. The Friends of NMAR Association is honored to support this initiative which contributes to the museum education of future generations and promotes cultural dialogue."
"On the occasion of the National Day, we inaugurate the Oriental Art Gallery presenting a remarkably valuable heritage, an exhibition reflecting the hard work of my colleagues—curators, restorers, technicians—as well as the enthusiasm of those who have provided material or logistical support, making this project a true expression of solidarity for art and culture. My deepest respect and gratitude go to all of them," stated Călin Stegerean, General Director of NMAR.
The Oriental Art Gallery was designed in line with contemporary museum practices, featuring custom-made display furniture that ensures both security and optimal preservation conditions for the exhibited heritage objects, equipped with its own lighting system. An adjacent space is designated for educational and communication activities, while the Tea Room will host specific ceremonies once again.
In the space dedicated to Islamic art, pieces created between the 7th and 20th centuries are on display, showcasing the mutual influence of artistic practices such as epigraphic decoration and the alternation between arabesque vegetal elements and geometric designs. The Islamic art pieces reflect shared characteristics in artistic conception and decorative motifs present in both sacred and secular objects: carpets, costumes, embroidery, ceramics, metalwork, weapons, and armor.
In the hall dedicated to Chinese art, remarkable works from millennia-old cultural traditions are presented, offering an overview of the evolution of artistic genres from the late Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) to the first half of the 20th century. The selection of paintings, sculptures, textiles as well as ceramic, jade, cloisonné and lacquer pieces illustrates the diverse styles of court art and folk-influenced art.
The halls dedicated to Japanese art feature defining objects of Japanese culture from the 17th to the 20th centuries, spanning the Edo, Meiji, and Taisho periods. These include paintings on silk and paper, sculptures, bronze vessels, ceramics, ivory pieces, and the famous tosei gusoku-type samurai armor. Polychrome woodblock printing, one of the major artistic achievements of the Edo period, is represented through significant works by masters active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including Utamaro, Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi. This section includes a feature unique in the country: a room designed for the tea ceremony.
The European Decorative Arts Gallery, inaugurated on January 15 2024 and the Oriental Art Gallery were conceived as a single exhibition entities dedicated to the decorative arts. They will be managed by the European and Oriental Decorative Arts Department and will be accessible with a unified entrance ticket starting November 22, 2024.
Visiting hours:
- Wednesday–Friday: 10 AM–6 PM
- Saturday–Sunday: 11 AM–7 PM
- Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
- Free admission on the first Wednesday of each month.
