This exhibition brings together a selection of major works produced by Rauschenberg during and in response to his time in Asia. It traces the conceptual, formal and material influences on his practice, such as sourcing textiles and collaborating with paper makers and ceramicists in China, India, and Japan. The exhibition also considers the history and legacy of his Asian Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange (ROCI) projects, which included exhibitions in Beijing (1985), Lhasa (1985), Tokyo (1986), and Kuala Lumpur (1990), and their lasting impact on local artists. The display will feature works by Rauschenberg and by Asian artists in dialogue with his practice, and marks the centenary of the artist’s birth.

One of the most innovative and influential artists of the past century, Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925–2008) had a long association with Asia. An enthusiastic traveller from his youth, Rauschenberg was deeply impacted by the cultures with which he came into contact. His extended engagement with Japan began in the mid-1960s and his residency in India in 1975 inspired new approaches to working with materials and colour. After his first trip to China in 1982, he developed the Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange (ROCI, 1984–1991), a global programme of travelling exhibitions and cultural dialogues.