Core Viewpoint - The "Le Lin Quan - Sino-Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition" at the Palace Museum showcases over 200 exhibits that highlight the beauty of Chinese classical gardens and their dialogue with foreign gardens, emphasizing the pursuit of an ideal living environment [4][12]. Group 1: Exhibition Highlights - The exhibition features a variety of garden-related themes, including elegant gatherings, appreciation of art, mountain excursions, quiet retreats, flower viewing, and musical enjoyment, illustrating the joys and aesthetics of garden life [5][6]. - Notable exhibits include the "Lanting Eight Pillars," which display calligraphy works related to the famous Lanting gathering, a significant cultural memory for the Chinese people [6][7]. - The exhibition includes works by renowned artists such as Claude Monet, with his famous "Water Lilies" series, showcasing the integration of color and light in garden landscapes [12][13]. Group 2: Cultural Exchange - The exhibition emphasizes the cultural dialogue between Chinese and Western gardens, highlighting differences in design philosophies, such as the Chinese pursuit of harmony with nature versus the Western focus on artificial beauty [14]. - Historical influences are noted, such as the incorporation of Chinese elements in Western garden designs during the 18th century, reflecting a fascination with Chinese aesthetics [14]. - The exhibition also features artifacts from international museums, including the Chicago Art Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, enhancing the cross-cultural exchange of garden culture [12].

Core Concept - The exhibition "Joy of Forest and Spring" co-hosted by the Palace Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago focuses on the cultural significance of gardens, showcasing both Chinese classical garden art and global garden culture through various artistic forms and historical narratives [1]. Group 1: Exhibition Overview - The exhibition runs from April 1 to June 29, 2025, and emphasizes the theme of "garden elegance," featuring six major garden activities: gathering, collection, mountain touring, quiet cultivation, flower viewing, and musical enjoyment [1]. - It includes a diverse range of exhibits, such as Chinese paintings, Qing dynasty artifacts, classical furniture, Western oil paintings, sculptures, Japanese ukiyo-e, and Persian miniature paintings [1]. Group 2: Garden Culture and Aesthetics - The "Elegant Gathering" section highlights the traditional Chinese practice of gathering friends in gardens, which inspired numerous literary works and artistic expressions [2]. - The exhibition features models and artworks that recreate historical gatherings like the Lanting Gathering, showcasing the integration of nature and human creativity [2][4]. Group 3: Notable Artworks - The exhibition displays various versions of the Lanting Gathering, including calligraphy and paintings that reflect its enduring impact on Chinese literature and culture [4][6]. - Significant pieces include the "Eight Pillars of Lanting" and the "Nine Songs Scroll," which illustrate the cultural importance of these gatherings in Chinese history [5][27]. Group 4: Cross-Cultural Comparisons - The exhibition also explores Western garden culture, showcasing Persian miniature paintings that depict garden scenes and reflect the influence of Chinese painting techniques [9][10]. - It contrasts the intimate gatherings in Chinese gardens with the more private salons of French nobility, highlighting different cultural approaches to social interaction and artistic expression [15][16]. Group 5: Musical and Artistic Integration - The "Musical Enjoyment" section emphasizes the role of music in garden settings, featuring artifacts related to traditional performances and the integration of natural sounds [70]. - The exhibition includes a reconstruction of a small theater in the Qianlong Garden, showcasing the popularity of theatrical performances during the Qing dynasty [72].

Core Viewpoint - The "Le Lin Quan - Chinese and Foreign Garden Culture Exhibition" at the Palace Museum showcases over 200 cultural relics and artworks, aiming to immerse visitors in the charm of garden culture and humanistic wisdom [1][3]. Group 1: Exhibition Overview - The exhibition is co-hosted by the Palace Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago, featuring six thematic units that integrate garden landscapes with literature, drama, and historical anecdotes, focusing on both Chinese classical gardens and global garden culture [3]. - The exhibition recreates historical gatherings, such as the famous Lantingji Xu gathering over 1600 years ago, where Wang Xizhi and others celebrated in a picturesque setting [3][5]. Group 2: Featured Artworks - Notable artworks include the Ming Dynasty painting "Lanting Xiuxi Tu" by You Qiu, which captures a spring gathering in the mountains, and "Xiyuan Yaji Tu" by Shitao, depicting famous Northern Song Dynasty figures [5]. - The exhibition also features the "Fanghu Tu" by Wu Bin, showcasing a fantastical mountain landscape, and various flower-themed artworks, including "Cengdie Bingxiao Tu" by Ma Lin and Monet's "Water Lilies" [7][9][10]. Group 3: Innovative Exhibition Techniques - The exhibition employs unique presentation methods, including architectural models and historical spatial reconstructions, to illustrate the wisdom behind the construction of the Forbidden City gardens [10][12]. - A highlight is the meticulously replicated Qianlong Garden model, which will officially open to the public in September, showcasing the peak of interior decoration craftsmanship during the Qianlong Emperor's reign [12][14]. Group 4: Cultural Significance - The exhibition emphasizes the pursuit of a transcendent spiritual space in gardens, reflecting the ancient Chinese desire for harmony with nature, whether in artificial landscapes or real mountains and waters [16].