Our project has been implemented between the year 2010 and the year 2013. The mobile exhibition "The Terracotta Army" has been presented in state museums of five Siberian cities: Novosibirsk (2010-2011); Seversk (2011); Tomsk (2011); Karasyk (2012) and Iskitim (2013). The opening of our project has been held at the Novosibirsk State Regional Museum at the 17th of November, 2010. Four terracotta st
atues ("marksmen", "warrior", "general", "cavalry horse") and more than 65 unique bronze and stone military and ritual items from ancient China have been presented there. All these items were a copies of an original archaeological artifacts founded by Chinese researchers. All copies were made by professional specialists from the Terracotta Army museum at Xian, P.R.C., and the Institute of Archaeology in Beijing. Our mission was to tell the true story about ancient China to the people of Siberia and Russia. The fact is that Modern China plays one of the main roles in the economy and trade of Siberian and far eastern regions of Russia today. There are strong trade and political relations between our countries, many students in Russia learn Chinese and many tourists, businessmen and students visit China every year. That's why any knowledge about the history and the culture of China could be useful. Our exhibition tells about the period of Warring states in China and about it's first emperor Qin Shi Huang who have united ancient warring states into the first Chinese empire. Due to the fantastic archaeological discovery (one of the greatest during the XXth century!), The Qin Shi Huang's giant burial complex had been found, and pits with terracotta warriors and horses had been discovered in the near vicinity from the first emperor's burial in March, 1974. It was occasional finding of several parts from different terracotta statues made by peasants from an agricultural commune. Between 1974 and 2013 the giant archaeological research has been made, but this great burial complex (about 58 square kilometers) still needs in further research. Results of archaeological excavations and scientific research provides specialists with amazing data concerning different aspects of life in ancient China. The main part of this information is that about ancient Chinese military art and the army of First Empire. Arms and armor, haircuts, faces, rank insignia, uniform colors, battle or ceremonial order.... And hundreds of other facts - we wanted to present this unique information for Russian people. We've tried to create both a mobile museum exhibition and an educational ground which could help students and pupils to improve their knowledge about the history of ancient China and it military art. "The Terracotta Army" exhibition have offered different forms of activity to visitors: public election, printed books and interactive slides, films an audio guide had been possible during the visit. The authors of our project are Oleg Pronin, Igor Moskvitin, Nataly Pronina and Alexey Pronin. In the year 2011 our group of authors was awarded with Governor of Novosibirsk region award in the field of culture and art. We have implemented two ways of "The Terracotta Exhibition": 1) for state museums of big Siberian sixties like Novosibirsk, Tomsk and Seversk; and 2) for for municipal museums of small Siberian cities like Karasuk and Iskitim. There are two variations of the exposition - for small and big museum. We hope our project appeared to be interesting and useful for our visitors. We hope this will improve relations between Russia and China and make the museum sphere in Siberia more active, interesting and unusual. Our project has not be available with out professional support of our partners: the financial support of The Ministry of Culture of Novosibirsk region; the Novosibirsk State Regional Museum, The Tomsk State Regional Museum, The museum of Seversk and museums of Karasyk and Iskitim; The AVI company. After three years, five cities, hundreds of kilometers and thousands of visitors our project "The Terracotta Army" is over now. All four terracotta statues were presented as a gift to the Novosibirsk State University from its graduates. One can see the small exposition in it's hall now.
