The world tour of Genghis Khan: The Exhibition invades the Irving Arts Center from June 1 to Sept. 30, 2011, bringing with it the largest collection of 13th century Mongolian artifacts ever gathered in a single showing.
Gold jewelry, weaponry, tomb treasures, silk robes, religious relics, porcelain vases and more capture the essence of Genghis Khan’s empire, his military prowess, cultural influence, mysterious burial and lasting legacy on modern-day culture. The exhibition is enhanced by video screens, handicraft and weaponry activity stations, a life size ger (traditional Mongolian home) and role playing kiosks to create a highly interactive, educational and historical experience.
Organized by Don Lessem, a noted science journalist, Genghis Khan: The Exhibition premiered at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in 2009, traveled to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the San Jose Tech Museum in California. It is on display at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore and opens this summer at the Irving Arts Center.
About Genghis Khan
An epic tale, the transformation of Temüjin – a poor, illiterate child – into Genghis Khan – one of history’s greatest conquers – is filled with brutality, cunning and intrigue. Born in 1162 AD as Temüjin, Genghis Khan’s early hardships included the untimely death of his father, the controversial execution of his half-brother, his imprisonment and torture at the hands of a warring tribe, the kidnapping of his young wife, Borte, and the violent and deadly rivalry between him and his sworn blood brother, Jamuka. These challenges shaped him into a brutal, yet visionary leader.
In 1206 AD he successfully united the Mongol clans and was given the title of Genghis Khan – Fierce or Oceanic Ruler. He solidified this unification by establishing a code of law or Yasa which brought order to the Mongolian steppes, and prepared his people to wage war with civilizations beyond Mongolian borders.
Balancing the rule of law with the superior power of his military, Genghis Khan was able to take a part of northern China in 1215 AD. Then, he took his armies to the west and conquered a part of the Middle East in 1220 AD. He died in 1227 AD, after leaving each of his four sons a part of his empire and selecting his son Ogodei as Khan of the Mongols. Genghis Khan’s grandson, Kublai Khan, initiated 89 years of Mongol rule over China under the support of the Yuan dynasty. Genghis Khan’s burial site remains one of history’s great mysteries.
Tickets
Genghis Khan: The Exhibition runs June 1 to Sept. 30, 2011. Exhibit hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1-8 p.m. Admission is timed and the last entry time is at 6:30 p.m. daily.
Tickets are $8 for children, groups and seniors (ages 60 years and above); and $12 for adults. Children under 2 years old are free. To purchase tickets contact the box office at (972) 252-2787 or visit www.KhanIrving.com.
Organizers
The story of Genghis Khan the conqueror, the myth and the man is told through a stunning and highly interactive exhibition with more than 200 artifacts from museums and private collections.
The exhibition was organized by Don Lessem, author and president of Exhibits Rex, Inc., with curatorial consultation by leading Genghis Khan scholars, Dr. William Fitzhugh of the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Morris Rossabi of Columbia University. The exhibition was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Lenders include the National Museum of Mongolian History, the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, the National Library of Mongolia, the Military Museum of Mongolia and the Dornod Province Museum in Mongolia. Artifacts are also on loan from private collections including the Kooros and Gotuaco families, the Xinhuan Collection and Arthur Leeper.
About the Irving Arts Center
The Irving Arts Center – a visual and performing arts facility – is a department of the City of Irving. The Arts Center became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in 2007 and is one of only 160 institutions nationwide to earn the honor. More than 130,000 visitors attend Arts Center events each year. The Irving Arts Center is located at 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX. For more information please contact the Arts Center at (972) 252-7558 or visit www.irvingartscenter.com.
