Ancient Art Links, a CUNY TV Digital Series, is a miniseries produced by Quan Ou, dedicated to exploring history via stories and profiles of ancient art treasures. The series of short films aims to bridge an information gap between members of the general public and art historians and to become an entertaining and enlightening way to reflect on the past and the common links that join civilizations and humanity.

Episode 1 - 07/02/19
Armenian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art​
tv.cuny.edu/show/ancientartlinks/PR2007749


This is the first major exhibition to explore the remarkable artistic and cultural achievements of the Armenian people in a global context over fourteen centuries—from the fourth century, when the Armenians converted to Christianity in their homeland at the base of Mount Ararat, to the seventeenth century, when Armenian control of global trade routes first brought books printed in Armenian into the region.

Through some 140 objects—including opulent gilded reliquaries, richly illuminated manuscripts, rare textiles, cross-stones (khachkars), precious liturgical furnishings, church models, and printed books—the exhibition demonstrates how Armenians developed a unique Christian identity that linked their widespread communities over the years.

Episode 2 - 07/09/19
Nedjemankh Coffin - Ancient Egypt
tv.cuny.edu/show/ancientartlinks/PR2007750


This episode of Ancient Art Links showcases the Metropolitan Museum's recent acquisition of an Egyptian Coffin, dating back to the 1st Century BC, along with 70 artifacts related to Egyptian funeral beliefs. The program shines additional light on Egyptian mythology; their gods, their burial, mummification rituals, and their beliefs about the afterlife.

Episode 3 - 07/16/19
The Tale of Genji, Part One​
tv.cuny.edu/show/ancientartlinks/PR2007751


The Tale of Genji (Part One) features the first major exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, focusing on the artistic tradition inspired by a classic work of Japanese literature, "The Tale of Genji." Written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh-century imperial court, the tale is often referred to as the world's first novel. The exhibition features more than 120 works inspired by the novel, covering the period from the eleventh century to the present.

In Part One, Harvard professor Melissa McCormick, curator of the exhibition, leads the audience on a discovery tour of Japanese art and culture; John T. Carpenter, Curator of Japanese Art at the Met, provides background information about Japanese literature and language development of the time.

Episode 4 - 07/23/19
The Tale of Genji, Part Two​
tv.cuny.edu/show/ancientartlinks/PR2008367


The Tale of Genji (Part Two) features the Metropolitan Museum’s first major exhibition to focus on the artistic tradition inspired by a classic work of Japanese literature, "The Tale of Genji." Written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh-century imperial court, the tale is often referred to as the world's first novel. The exhibition features more than 120 works inspired by the novel, covering the period from the eleventh century to the present.

In Part Two, Harvard professor Melissa McCormick, curator of the exhibition, continues the tour of Japanese art, focusing on female Japanese artists of the past thousand years; John T. Carpenter, Curator of Japanese Art at the Met, introduces the Japanese painting schools and the large screen painting tradition; and, Monika Bincsik, assistant curator of Japanese Art at the Met, demonstrates the influence of Genji art on Japanese marriage traditions.

Episode 5 - 07/30/19​
Art and Identity in the Ancient Middle East​
tv.cuny.edu/show/ancientartlinks/PR2008453


In the spring of 2019, The Metropolitan Museum of Art unveiled the landmark exhibition “Between Empires: Art and Identity In The Ancient Middle East. With the support of over 20 museums and institutions around the globe, the show gathered 190 works of art dated from the 1st century B.C. to the third century A.D., when the Roman Empire in the west was competing with the Parthian Empire in the East for control over the Middle East, the global trade center, the nexus of lucrative silk and incense trades. “The exhibition tour, led by curator Michael Seymour and Blair Fowlkes-Childs, started with ancient Southwest Arabia, to Petra, Judaea, Tyre, Sidon, Palmyra, Dura-Europos and Mesopotamia, following the ancient trade route between East and West.”

Dura-Europos in Eastern Syria is an exceptional site for understanding what went on in the Middle East: Christianity, Judaism, and polytheism were all practiced in the same place at the same time. The show ends at the Parthian Empire's destruction and the establishment of the Sassanian Empire.

Producer Ou Quan
Ancient Art Links' producer Ou Quan is a passionate history and art researcher. A Chinese native with early experience at Beijing Television, she earned an MFA from Brooklyn College/CUNY and was a tenured post-production supervisor at the college for seven years. An experienced editor, she has been nominated for a New York Emmy six times. In addition to editing, she has also served as associate producer or co-producer on a variety of CUNY TV series as well as outside projects. Her current title at CUNY TV is Post Production Manager.