Figure of a Chinese man, 960 - 1279, China, Song dynasty. © Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Exhibition preview – Aspects of China, at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, from February 8 2008.

As part of the national China Now festival organised to coincide with the Beijing Olympics and Chinese New Year, a vibrant and beautiful collection of Chinese ceramics will be displayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery throughout 2008.

Aspects Of China, the first of three major shows about China in the city, is a magnificent collection of pottery drawn from over 2,000 years of Chinese history and is on display for the first time.

Amongst the collection are two dishes that date back to the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1573-1619). The artefacts, which feature images of goldfish and a crab, would have most likely been used during a New Year celebration.

Bowl, 1796- 1820, China, Qing dynasty, Jiaqing reign. © Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Many of the decorative features on the ceramics, which add bright splashes of colour to the gallery, represent traditional aspects of Chinese life; each explored and explained within the exhibition.

From Canton to Guangzhou, the second of the three fascinating exhibitions, will run at BMAG from May 3 until August 10 2008, displaying vintage and contemporary photographic records of Birmingham’s twin city in China.

Contrasts of photographs of Canton (now known as Guangzhou) by the European photographer Felice Beato in 1860 with those of contemporary Chinese photographer Xu Peiwu (1997-2007) will also be shown.

Figure of a dancer 206 BC - AD 220 China, Han Dynasty. © Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

From October 18 2008 until January 4 2009, the Gas Hall will be showing Beijing Map Games, a groundbreaking exhibition of contemporary art and architecture from Beijing.

Birmingham will be the first city in the world, following Beijing, to show this exhibition, which will contain artwork inspired by the rapid changes in Beijing.

There will also be numerous Chinese art and craft demonstrations taking place at the museum, as well as further events taking place throughout the city as part of the China Festival.

This is an exhibition preview. If you’ve been to see the show, why not let us know what you think?

Jen Walker is the 24 Hour Museum / West Midlands Museums Hub Diversity Arts Journalist for the West Midlands funded by Renaissance. Renaissance is the groundbreaking initiative to transform England's regional museums, led by MLA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.