While the Europeans developed a fascination with all things Asian -- a hunger the Indians, Chinese and Japanese were only too happy to feed -- the Asians took what they wanted from Europe, namely technology.
"You must not over-simplify. It wasn't a clear-cut taking relationship. The Asians took a lot of technology from the Europeans who in turn took the artefacts they prized," Jaffer said.
"The exhibition is trying to correct perceptions. It is all about the Europeans' sense of wonder about Asia," he added. "We are showing things from an Asian perspective.
Jackson and Jaffer have pulled together some 200 objects from all over the world -- some never seen before in public -- ranging from painted screens to ornate caskets and clothes to illustrate their theme.
"We are illustrating a story through objects. But we will also be using text panels to show that the relationship was not always a happy one. There were times of real tensions and violence," Jaffer said.
"There were clashes of personalities as well as of civilizations."
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