Cryptosphere, by artist-in-residence Simeon Nelson
Monday 7 April – Monday 12 May

Explore aspects of the Society's map collection through contemporary sculptural forms developed by artist in residence Simeon Nelson.

Nelson has created a new body of work, locating the mythological and ornamental within the physical and temporal, responding to his research on maps that consider mythical places as physical locations, as well as the evolution of Western cartography and the shifting perspectives of the past 1,000 years.

  View a gallery of the exhibition or watch a video of its installation

  A publication, produced by Parabola, accompanies the residency with texts from Dr Denis Alexander, Professor Denis Cosgrove, Dr Alessandro Scafi, Rebecca Geldard. The book can be purchased at the Society, or online here.

  The Residency involved the participation of Year 5 pupils at Gayhurst Community School, Hackney, East London. Workshops encouraged pupils to consider issues of the built environment, the natural world and diaspora communities.

  On 9 May, a panel discussion on the exhibition will be held 14.00-18.30. Contact crossingcontinents@rgs.org for details, and to reserve a place. More details here (PDF)

  Open Monday-Friday, 10.00-17.00 in the Pavilion, at RGS-IBG.

  Seeing China
Wednesday 14 May - Thursday 17 July
Wednesday 6 August - Thursday 21 August

This exhibition explores the Society's historic collection of maps and photographs of China from 1850 onwards through the personal reminiscences and collective reflections of four London-based Chinese community groups.

Adults, young people and children with differing backgrounds and interests explored the Collection to reveal their diverse histories and experiences.

The legacies of several centuries of contact between Britain and China provide a backdrop for contemporary issues such as global migration and identity, alongside an examination of complex shared, and often unequal histories of these two countries.

  Collections showcases
May 21, 28; June 11, 18, 25; July 9, 16; Aug 6,13, 20 @ 15.30

View original items related to the exhibition, including an 1895 map of Beijing’s Forbidden City and
Chinese photographs by Victorian traveller Isabella Bird Bishop.

• Showcases run for 45 minutes approx
• Suitable for adults and children aged 7+ (children must be accompanied by an adult)
• To book a place call +44 (0)20 7591 3044 or email crossingcontinents@rgs.org

  Talks
Collections inspiring creativity
18 June, 18.30-20.00
A screening of two short films by Chinese community groups inspired by historic collections will be followed by a talk with the artists.

• ‘Seeing China: perspectives on the past’, created with theatre professional Kumiko Mendl for the Society
• ‘A Mirrored Community’ by artist Hale Man for the Horniman Museum

Exploring the Society’s collections
7 August, 18.30-20.00
Join David Chan, Lee Fulton, and Siu-fan Lee to hear about
their research into the Society’s archives.

To book a free place, call +44 (0)20 7591 3052 or email crossingcontinents@rgs.org

  This exhibition is also available for regional tours, for further information please email crossingcontinents@rgs.org.