This exhibition is generously sponsored by the Peabody Essex Museum 

Guest Juror: Karina Corrigan

Karina Corrigan's interests center on the material culture of global connections. She serves as PEM's Associate Director–Collections and The H.A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art. In her curatorial practice she oversees the largest, most comprehensive public collection of art made in China, Japan and South Asia for export to other cultures. In her role as Associate Director–Collections, Corrigan explores new ways to celebrate the museum’s rich and storied collection by spearheading new research; enhancing access through increased documentation, digitization and display; and providing guidance for acquisitions.

Corrigan lectures and publishes on many aspects of Asian Export art and has organized numerous exhibitions at PEM, including Power and Perspective: Early Photography in China; Japanomania! Japanese Art Goes Global; Asia in Amsterdam: The Culture of Luxury in the Golden Age, co-organized with the Rijksmuseum; Golden: Dutch and Flemish Masterworks from the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection; and Taj Mahal, the Building of a Legend. She served as the coordinating curator at PEM for Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks in 2024.

The Language of Flowers

by Hope Carpenter

This seemingly natural arrangement of flowers is actually a carefully constructed bouquet, not unlike the many floral still life paintings in the exhibition Saints, Sinners, Lovers and Fools: 300 Years of Flemish Masterworks. The exquisitely formed paper flowers, hand painted to resemble rare botanical specimens, are works of art in their own right, but their riotous assemblage is ultimately more than their parts. I was particularly enchanted by the butterfly, whose vibrant wings have been stilled mid flap, the whimsical snail, and the note in Flemish below the vase.

All of these elements combined to create a luscious three dimensional composition.

- Karina H. Corrigan

A Wrinkle In Time - Banned Books Series

by François-Xavier De Costerd

I was drawn to the deep colors and luminosity of this large scale painting in oil. The young girl, fully enveloped by the seemingly oversized chair, evokes both cosy childhood memories and an element of ambiguity with her obscured features.

The artist’s rendering in paint of the textiles –the upholstered chair and the girl’s embroidered or patterned shorts – is especially beautiful.

- Karina H. Corrigan

Forever With You - Stardust

by François-Xavier De Costerd

I was enthralled by this enigmatic video work. Its subtle and trancelike soundtrack permeated through several of the gallery spaces in the exhibition, inviting me into the small space in which it was installed. Its changing geometries, bleeding color, and movement of images toward abstraction were captivating to watch.

Like the many new genres of painting introduced in Flanders during the 17 th century – most notably landscape painting – this is an innovative and expansive work.