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Sounds of the Astor Chinese Garden Court, 1981 | Met ASMR

Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of The Astor Court. Installed at The Met by Suzhou craftsmen in 1981, each brick, tile, and wood column join to conceive a Ming-style garden courtyard that provides refuge from the bustling streets of New York City.

See how the Astor Court was built in our newly restored From the Vaults feature.


Contributors

Chief Digital Officer: Douglas Hegley
Executive Producer: Sarah Wambold
Senior Managing Producer: Kate Farrell
Managing Producer: Ann C. Collins
Director/Producer: Angelina Ding
Field Producer: Melissa Bell
Editor: Angelina Ding
Supervising Editor: Lucas Groth
Production Coordinator: Lela Jenkins
Cinematography: Sean Ryan, Ben Poster, Jason Chau, Kenny Wu
Jeffrey Johnson, Rafael Salazar Moreno, and Jonathan Nelson
Sound Recordist: David Raymond
Rights and Permissions: Julie Zeftel

Special thanks to:
Joseph Scheier-Dolberg, Oscar Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang Associate Curator of Chinese Paintings
Mike Hearn, Douglas Dillon Chair, Asian Art
Stephanie Kwai, Senior Manager of Administration, Operations, and Collections, Asian Art


Two construction workers onsite installing the Ming Garden in Astor Court.
Video
This short film from 1983 documents the installation of a Ming-style garden courtyard at The Met, the first permanent cultural exchange between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.
May 16, 2023
Set of nine bifaces, carved delicately into spears, placed upright against a gray background.
A close look at these ancient bifaces reveals a profound story about the early human relationship with the environment.
Andrea Myers Achi
October 6
Several people install a monumental black-and-beige abstract splatter painting in a gallery, working together with care and concentration.
Video
Take a look behind the scenes as Met handlers install Jackson Pollock’s 17-foot Autumn Rhythm: Number 30, 1950.
October 2
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