Exhibition showcases centuries-old Chinese culture

Two Mandarin ducks, a bouquet of narcissus and a few stalks of bamboo were represented in a birthday gift painting from ancient China hundreds of years ago.

In the Western world, narcissus is associated with self-obsession, whereas in ancient China it represented nobility because of its fragrant nature. Similarly, bamboo signifies celebration in Chinese culture. In the painting in question a gathering of gods and goddesses joyously celebrates longevity, making it a thoughtful birthday gift, said a guide at the China Institute in Manhattan.

This birthday gift is one of more than 100 individual pieces of masterworks by 59 artists in an exhibition at the China Institute Gallery, Flowers on a River: The Art of Chinese Flower-and-Bird Painting.