MOCA TALKS with Dr. Richard A. Pegg – Unpacking the Chinese Blue Maps: Heaven and Earth in the Early 19th Century

Presented during Asia Week New York, MOCA invites you to an insightful presentation by Dr. Richard A. Pegg, Director and Curator of Asian Art at the MacLean Collection and curator of MOCA’s special exhibition Heaven & Earth: The Blue Maps of China (on view through March 29, 2026). The presentation will be followed by a guided Q&A in the gallery.

In the early decades of the nineteenth century, China stood at a moment of profound transition, negotiating its geopolitical position as both an ancient civilization and an emerging modern nation-state. It was during this period that two remarkable series of large-format maps—one terrestrial and one celestial—were printed in the city of Suzhou. These maps articulate Chinese conceptions of the relationship between earthly and cosmic space and offer rare insight into how scholars and artists understood and represented the world around them.

Serving as the closing program of Heaven & Earth, this talk explores the artistic, historical, and cultural significance of the blue maps, situating them within the broader global history of mapmaking. Don’t miss this final opportunity to experience this special exhibition before it closes on Sunday, March 29!