Masked intrigue

The Beauty of the Spirits exhibition showcases elaborate masks, which come from a wealth of African, Asian, American and Oceanian collections, at the Paris-based Quai Branly museum.

The exhibits bear witness to stunning creativity in the use of a range of materials, including leather, porcelain, jade, vine and plastic, and the mastery of handicraft skills such as weaving, carving, embroidering and color painting. They cast a light on a normally unseen world.

Opening times: 9 am-5 pm, no entrance after 4 pm, closed on Mondays, until Aug 16. National Museum of China, east of Tian'anmen Square, 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Beijing. 010-6511-6400.

The Beauty of the Spirits exhibition showcases elaborate masks, which come from a wealth of African, Asian, American and Oceanian collections, at the Paris-based Quai Branly museum.[Photo provided to China Daily]