Photo courtesy of Helene Norton Russell.
Photo courtesy of Helene Norton Russell.
Lunar New Year
5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Ring in the Year of the Dragon at the MFA! Stop by on Thursday evening, February 15, and celebrate the Lunar New Year by exploring Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese art from our collection.
Lunar New Year is celebrated across Asia and around the world. This year, the holiday, which always falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, marks the Year of the Dragon, one of the 12 animals of the zodiac in many East Asian countries.
Special General Admission Pricing after 5 pm on February 15
Enjoy $5 minimum, pay-what-you-wish general admission to MFA Boston during our Lunar New Year celebration (available in person day of, starting at 5 pm).
Events and Activities
Chinese Brush Painting
5–9 pm (last entry 8:45 pm)
Druker Studios
Learn how to make a painting of bamboo using four basic brush strokes, then turn your masterpiece into a hanging scroll!
Wah Lum Kung Fu and Tai Chi Academy
5:30 and 7:20 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Enjoy an interactive demonstration by instructors and diverse members of all ages from the Wah Lum Kung Fu and Tai Chi Academy. Catch performances of traditional kung fu and be enchanted by the majestic dragon dance to welcome the Year of the Dragon.
Sebae and Hanbok Demo
5:30–7 pm
Gallery 250
Sebae is the Lunar New Year ritual in Korea of bowing to family elders, who then return verbal blessings of good luck in the coming year and sometimes give out envelopes full of money. Watch a sebae demonstration, then try on a hanbok, a traditional Korean dress. Hosted by members of the Korean Cultural Society of Boston.
Sagunja
6:15–6:45 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind performance combining the beauty of Korean art songs with the traditional Korean painting style known as Sagunja. Directed and performed by Dr. Yoo Sun Na and presented by artist Kyung Ok Lee, arts educator Christine Soojung Jee, accompanist Matt Savage, and the Korean Cultural Society of Boston’s ensemble of various ages and nationalities.
Spotlight Talk: Dragon, Phoenix, and Nghe
6pm
Gallery 176
Join Laura Weinstein, Ananda Coomaraswamy Curator of South Asian and Islamic Art, for a close look at Vietnamese ceramics and metalwork from the MFA’s collection. Spot mythical creatures and learn how innovative Vietnamese artists incorporated them into ritual, luxury, and everyday objects.
Vovinam Quang Trung Martial Arts
6:30 pm
Gallery 168
Be dazzled by the traditional lion dance, presented by Vovinam Quang Trung Martial Arts.
Spotlight Talk: Dragons in Chinese Paintings
6:30 pm
Gallery 274
Dragons are one of the most common motifs in Chinese art. Join Nancy Berliner, Wu Tung Senior Curator of Chinese Art, for a closer look at several paintings from the Chinese Song dynasty that feature dragons, dragons, and more dragons!
Spotlight Talk: A Rare Dragon
7pm
Gallery 175
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon by joining Dr. Gillian Zhang, curatorial research associate, Chinese Art, as she shares the story of an extremely rare 13th-century Chinese dragon plate. Learn about the object's journeys over time and the cross-cultural exchange of ideas, goods, and arts between China and the Islamic world.
Presented in Mandarin Chinese.
Boston Korean Traditional Dance Presents ‘Seollal’
6:50–7:15 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Ring in Seollal (the Korean New Year) with a lively dance performance from Boston Korean Traditional Dance that highlights many traditional elements of the celebration.
Spotlight Talk: Korean Celadon, Delicate yet Splendid
7:15pm
Gallery 179
To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Join Korea Foundation interns Malgeum Kim and Yeonji Song on a hunt for dragons on celadon ceramics made during Korea’s Goryeo dynasty. Learn about celadon and discover the secrets of the delicate ceramic decorative technique known as sanggam.
Presented in Korean and English.
Vietnamese Music and Dance
7:50–8:25 pm
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Immerse yourself in a traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration with music and dance selections by STAR Group Boston, Vietnamese Traditional Southern Group, and the Cultural Empowerment Organization.
Dining Specials
Enjoy a two- or three-course prix fixe menu at New American Café inspired by Lunar New Year, or head to Taste for special lite bites in celebration of the holiday. Taste is open until 9 pm on February 15. Learn more about dining at MFA Boston.
Event Policies
All bags are subject to inspection by Museum staff. Backpacks, large bags and outside food or drink are not permitted. Exceptions will be made for medical or religious needs. Smaller bags are strongly discouraged, and any bags larger than 11” x 15” will need to be checked in the Coat Room upon entry.
