Ruihe Qi

Ruihe's study will take a comparative view, focusing on Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and China.

Ruihe Qi (Shuai Qi) is a PhD fellow at the Stout Research Centre for NZ Studies, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. His doctoral research will explore the relationship between museums and Indigenous intangible cultural heritage ICH, with a particular focus on performing arts and ritual practices.

His study will take a comparative view, focusing on Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and China, with examples such as Māori Kapa Haka, Australian Aboriginal dance, and the Oroqen rituals in northeastern China. Through this project, he will examine how museums work with Indigenous peoples and present their cultural practices, highlighting differences across countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He also aims to identify lessons and practices that mainland China can learn from these international cases, with the goal of developing a practical model for museums and related organisations to support the ICH of Indigenous and ethnic communities.

Ruihe, originally from mainland China, holds an MA in Art Museum and Gallery Studies from the University of Leicester, UK, as well as dual bachelor’s degrees in Cultural Industry Management (Communication University of China) and Arts Management (Shenyang Conservatory of Music).

Before joining the Stout Research Centre, he worked at several leading museums, including the Natural History Museum, London; Beijing Minsheng Art Museum; and UCCA Beijing. Through these roles, he has developed extensive professional experience in the museum and gallery sector, particularly in curatorial practice, public engagement, and media communication. In addition to his museum career, Ruihe has also worked as an arts media journalist. Representing Chinese arts media, he has reported on major international art events such as the London Frieze Art Fair, the Venice Biennale, and documenta 15 in Kassel.

Contact:  ruihe.qi@vuw.ac.nz