Exhibition shines light on Freud's China interest

In his lifetime, Freud was "very much part of the intellectual landscape" in China, Clunas said, before falling out of fashion, only to undergo a revival in more recent times. It is hoped the exhibition, and its related events, will tap into that.

"In the 1980s, there was a Freud craze in China; his books were retranslated and republished and now he's part of discussions around therapy and psychoanalysis just like everywhere else," Clunas explained. "We have online events in connection with the exhibition, including discussions with psychotherapists in China who can explain the status he has there today."

While the museum welcomes everyone, Clunas said efforts have been made to make this exhibition particularly appealing to Chinese visitors.

"All the item labels, panels, and explanations, and also the exhibition publication, are bilingual and that's very deliberate," he said. "We would love Chinese people to be aware of the museum and Freud's interest in China, so accessibility is an important part of that."

Freud and China runs at the Freud Museum in Hampstead until June 26, 2022.