Shaolin monks, samurai and futuristic robots - representations of Asian martial arts disciplines are fixed in the collective imagination. Over and above their warrior function, the martial arts are a source of fascination for their techniques, their spirituality and their history tinged with legend and fiction. The exhibition Arts of Fighting in Asia: Mythology, Kung Fu and Samurai explores the mythology, history, practice and representation of the Asian martial disciplines, ranging from the classical arts to pop culture.

With over 300 ancient and contemporary works, the exhibition presents a rich gallery of historical characters and fictional heroes, and comprises three sections exploring the iconographies of combat in Indian, Chinese and Japanese cultures in turn, and placing the focus on cinema.