Beyond Tea
Poster transcript
Created for this exhibition, 茶外有茶 looks beyond tea as a drink to how it is grown, made, circulated, and shared—and to the people, labour, and histories involved.
Most people turn to wine; who understands the fragrance tea can bring?
Jiaoran, “Drinking Tea with Lu Yu on the Ninth Day” (Tang dynasty)
Historical background
Jiaoran’s poem is associated with the Double Ninth Festival, when drinking wine was customary. The lines contrast that convention with the shared appreciation of tea. They do not declare tea morally superior in every setting; they describe recognition between people who understand a particular fragrance and practice.
Curator’s interpretation
“Beyond Tea” names the method of the whole exhibition. A cup contains more than a beverage: plants, land, skill, labour, transport, branding, service, memory, and relationships. The phrase asks visitors to look through the object without looking past the people who made it.
Artwork note
Uses an approved work or detail by Yang Hui and approved calligraphy by Wen Ying where present. The exact source image is credited beside the poster rather than one general credit for the entire gallery.