CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

ART OF GIFTING: THE FUYUN XUAN COLLECTION OF CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES (from 12th April 2024 until further notice)

During 2023, HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART received a generous donation of nearly 500 pieces of Chinese snuff bottles from the Fuyun Xuan Collection for the museum's permanent collection from Mrs Josephine Sin, the wife of the late local collector, Mr Christopher Sin. The museum is staging a new exhibition, the "Art of Gifting: The Fuyun Xuan Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles", to feature this entire significant donation. The exhibition runs from 12th April 2024 until further notice.

Christopher Sin's collection is recognised as one of the most important private collections of snuff bottles in the world. His unwavering efforts during his lifetime had greatly contributed to the promotion of the art of Chinese snuff bottles. In line with his legacy and the spirit of his generosity, Mrs Sin donated the Fuyun Xuan Collection to the Hong Kong Museum of Art to enable the public to appreciate these precious cultural gems in a gesture of extraordinary generosity.

Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department is committed to promoting Chinese history and culture. This exhibition showcases the broad and profound cultural aspects of China through delicate and exquisite Chinese snuff bottles, allowing audiences to appreciate the passion and affection of Hong Kong collectors towards artefacts of Chinese culture. The museum will continue to collaborate with local collectors, making Hong Kong an important international hub for Chinese art collections and exhibitions, and telling good stories of China to the world from Hong Kong's unique curatorial perspective.

Mrs Sin stated in her donation message that the museum has been relentless in collaborating with local private collectors to narrate the history of Chinese art collecting in the city. In hopes of honouring and expanding his legacy, she entrusted Mr Sin's lifetime treasured collection to the museum to provide the public with the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of this unique form of Chinese art.

Established by the late collector Mr Sin, the Fuyun Xuan Collection is an internationally renowned private collection of snuff bottles located in Hong Kong. This generous donation encompasses the gems of Mr Sin's lifelong collection. Remarkable in both its quantity and quality, the donation stands as the most extensive and comprehensive of its kind ever received by a museum in Hong Kong. Within the collection is a double gourd-shaped glass snuff bottle with floral design in painted enamels on yellow ground, which Mr Sin insisted on acquiring even in his final days. Such an acquisition showcases Mr Sin's deep fascination with snuff bottles, and earned him the nickname "Snuff Bottle Enthusiast" among other collectors.

Other highlight exhibits include an aventurine glass snuff bottle with chi-dragons and shou medallion design; a coral snuff bottle with "Liu Hai playing with a toad" design carved in the round; a gold snuff bottle with scene of mother and children in painted enamels; a snuff bottle with magpies and plums in two-colour overlay on light rouge ground; a coupled-vase-shaped snuff bottle with imperial poem inscription and floral design in fencai enamels; and a set of snuff bottles inside painted with "Along the River during Qingming Festival".

Gold snuff bottle with scene of mother and children in painted enamels

After being brought into China, snuff was cherished among the nobility and prominent officials, becoming highly popular in Qing society. It then led to the emergence of small bottles for holding snuff, which later evolved from practical vessels into fashionable icons of exquisite craft, making them precious gifts in diplomatic, official and social settings. The exhibition is divided into five zones: "Refined Materials", "Timeless Classics", "Novel Trends", "Playful Alternatives" and "Personal Touch", covering themes from material selection to craftsmanship techniques, guiding visitors into appreciating this unique Chinese art form from the perspective of gifting. Although being petite in size, snuff bottles encompass a wide array of materials and craftsmanship. Exhibits comprise jade, porcelain, glassware, lacquerware, calabash, enamelware, and inside-painted varieties, making them a miniature embodiment of Chinese art and craft history. The exhibition features a large-scale projection that showcases the intricate details and exquisite artistry of snuff bottles. An accompanying talk for the exhibition will be held in mid-2024. Collector Mr Humphrey Hui, a close friend of Mr Sin, has been invited to share stories about the establishment of the Fuyun Xuan Collection. The museum will also establish a permanent display for this donation after the exhibition.

The exhibition can be found at the Chinese Antiquities Gallery on the third floor of the museum.

For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/art-of-gifting.html

The exhibition is also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has all along promoted Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound aspects of Chinese culture.

For more information see;

https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html

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THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB SERIES: THE ANCIENT CIVILISATION OF THE XIA, SHANG AND ZHOU DYNASTIES IN HENAN PROVINCE (until 8th July 2024)

HONG KONG MUSEUM OF HISTORY is launching the first large-scale exhibition of the General History of China Exhibition Series in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Ancient Civilisation of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties in Henan Province" exhibition on 3rd April 2024 to showcase over 150 sets of cultural relics including large and complete sets of bronze ware, jade ware, potteries, bone ware and oracle bones, from the collections of the Henan Museum, as well as a dozen other museums and cultural institutions in the province, allowing members of the public to know more about the ancient civilisation and history of China. Admission to the exhibition is free. The exhibition period will run until 8th July 2024. The invaluable cultural relics have arrived in Hong Kong and experts from Henan and the curatorial team in Hong Kong are working intensively for the exhibition.

Through showcasing precious cultural relics of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, this exhibition introduces traces of important cities' remains in Henan Province and the political, social, rituals and etiquette, and cultural landscapes of the three dynasties.

The museum team went to Henan Province to check and receive the cultural relics with experts from Henan earlier. As the cultural relics to be showcased are age-old while some of them are relatively large and heavy, precise calculation is needed for the arrangement for transportation and load-bearing showcases.

One of the highlight exhibits, grade-one national treasure "Wang Zi Wu" ding, is from a collection of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology from the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China. Wang Zi Wu is a son of King Zhuang of Chu, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period. Around the belly of the ding, there are six kui-dragons climbing and biting the rim as if they are searching for water. The vivid and lifelike depiction showcases the unique style of Chu bronzes. The "Wang Zi Wu" ding weighs 75 kilograms and is the heaviest single-item exhibit of this exhibition. The museum team has done meticulous calculation, risk mitigation and control, from opening the crate to moving the artefact to its showcase and optimising the viewing angle, so that the artefact can be displayed in its best and safe condition.

As the exhibits of this exhibition are of various shapes and forms, tailor-made showcases with stand supports are required for some of them so that visitors can appreciate them from all angles. Another grade-one national treasure, a jade face cover dated to Western Zhou, is from a collection of the Henan Museum. The face cover comprises 58 jade pieces, arranged based on the facial structure of a person, for sewing onto silk fabrics and being placed over the face of the deceased during burial, as ancient people believed that jade could prevent the body from decaying.

"Xiao Chen Tuo Jian" jade cong (tube) from a collection of the Guo State Museum of Sanmenxia is a Shang object also unearthed from a tomb of Western Zhou. Round on the inside and square on the outside, the jade cong was a ritual object used to worship the earth and communicate with spirits and deities. When looking closely, visitors could see an inscription on the flat surface of the cong that reads "Xiao Chen Tuo Jian", indicating that it was a tribute offered to the Shang king by his minister Tuo. In order to draw the attention of the visitors to the inscription on the flat surface of the cong, the museum team has specially added an image for illustration purpose.

Grade-one national treasure "Wang Zi Wu" ding from a collection of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, which dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China

This is the first exhibition of the General History of China Exhibition Series, launched by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office in collaboration with the Hong Kong Museum of History. Subsequently, the museum will stage exhibitions every year on historical relics of significant periods in chronological order. The series will conclude in 2029 with an exhibition celebrating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information see;

https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html

The museum will organise fringe programmes during the exhibition period, including music performance and sharing by the Huaxia Ancient Music Orchestra of the Henan Museum. Members of the public can learn about the Chinese musical instruments and enhance their understanding of the ancient music culture of the Central Plains under the guidance of orchestra players. In addition, a forum and a lecture series will be organised to lead members of the public to explore the latest archaeological discoveries of the Shang dynasty in Henan Province and the world of ancient Chinese bronzes.

This exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Henan Museum, and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

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SEEING ART ANEW: MOUNTING AND CONSERVATION OF CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY (until 12th February 2025)

HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART has organised the "Seeing Art Anew: Mounting and Conservation of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy" exhibition, which focuses on selected research studies of the Chih Lo Lou Collection. It is no easy task for preserving ancient Chinese paintings and calligraphy which have undergone centuries of historical evolution, thanks to the meticulous craftmanship of traditional mounting techniques. With the support of the Conservation Office, the exhibition organised by the museum's curatorial team explores Chinese paintings and calligraphy from artistic and scientific perspectives, providing the public with insights into the conservation work behind the scenes of a museum. The exhibition runs from 22nd March 2024 until 12th February 2025.

The exhibition commences with an introduction to "Landscape" by Lan Ying from the Chih Lo Lou Collection. It takes around 16 sets of artworks selected from the Collection as examples to showcase the materials, formats and methods in the traditional Chinese mounting of paintings and calligraphy. Deviating from conventional curatorial approaches, this exhibition not only explores the artistic styles of the works but also incorporates scientific analyses and generates images and videos through scientific equipment, providing scientific insights into the materials and mounting techniques of Chinese paintings and calligraphy for discussion and research.

On the conservation and protection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy, the exhibition showcases the preservation process and outcomes of the Chih Lo Lou Collection, underscoring the significance of the application of the latest non-invasive analytical techniques in the study and preservation of Chinese paintings and calligraphy. Throughout the exhibition period, the Assistant Curators from the Conservation Office will regularly conduct demonstrations on the mounting of Chinese paintings and calligraphy as well as their conservation work. Engaging closely with the conservators, visitors can gain valuable knowledge and insights in preserving these artworks.

Echoing the theme of merging art and science, the museum has invited local art group XR Experience to feature a series of multimedia displays for the exhibition. Among these displays is a 16-metre-long graphic portraying a conservation laboratory. Through the use of augmented reality technology, mounting tools come to life, gradually revealing the step-by-step processes on the wall. In the other corner of the gallery, the space is transformed into a fantastical conservation laboratory by the group's talented illustrator. Using projection, they introduce a variety of commonly used mounting tools. Furthermore, the art group has designed an interactive animation titled "A day of a Conservator" which allows visitors to experience the work of a conservator and gain first-hand insights into their work.

The Chih Lo Lou Collection, one of the three major private collections of ancient Chinese paintings and calligraphy in Hong Kong, was assembled by the late philanthropist and connoisseur of Chinese art, Mr Ho Iu-kwong (1907-2006). The Ho family generously donated 365 works from the Chih Lo Lou Collection to the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 2018 and 2021 respectively. The Chih Lo Lou Gallery of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy was set up to display the collection.

The exhibition is located at the Chih Lo Lou Gallery of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy on the fourth floor of the museum at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/Seeing-Art-Anew.html

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WU GUANZHONG ART SPONSORSHIP EXHIBITIONS (from 22nd March 2024 until further notice)

HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART has recently received a generous donation of HK$100 million from Mr Wu Keyu, the son of Wu Guanzhong, for the establishment of the Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship, to support the promotion of Wu and related Chinese modern art. With the support of the fund, the museum has launching three new programmes which opened on 22nd March 2024 and will run until further notice.

They are: the Thematic Exhibition Series: "Wu Guanzhong: Between Black and White", the Cross-disciplinary Series: "Wu Guanzhong x Chris Cheung" and the Dialogue with 20th Century Chinese Art Series: "True Likeness: The Art and Collection of Jingguanlou". The programmes will shed new light on the late renowned artist Wu's artistic theory and showcase the development of modern Chinese art from different perspectives and approaches.

Wu once said his finest works should be preserved for the country and the public. He had regarded the museum as a kindred spirit and had made numerous donations to the museum over the years. After Wu's passing, his son, Mr Wu Keyu, continues to uphold his father's support and trust in the museum by donating more artworks. The establishment of the Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship represents the trust of Wu and his family to the museum, as well as Wu's affirmation of the museum over the past 30 years. Mr Wu Keyu's unconditional donation of HK$100 million fully supports the museum in promoting Wu's art and modern Chinese art, which is truly a gift for the people of Hong Kong.

Wu (1919-2010) was a master of the Chinese and international art scene in the 20th century. He had deep connections with Hong Kong and held multiple exhibitions and participated in various art events in the city. He specifically went to the streets of Hong Kong for sketching, with works featuring the city's urban scenery. Over the years, Wu and his family have continuously made donations of Wu's works and personal archives to the museum, making up a huge collection of over 450 items. Hong Kong Museum of Art has become the institution with the largest and most diverse collection of Wu's works, establishing itself as an important international hub for the collection and research of modern Chinese paintings. With the support of the Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship, the HKMoA will promote Wu and modern Chinese art to audiences in different regions and at various levels through comprehensive and diversified perspectives.

The three new programmes open to public at the museum starting from 22nd March are;

The Thematic Exhibition Series: “WU GUANZHONG: BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE” features over 30 pieces of Wu's ink and oil paintings in two phases. Wu, in his early years, studied traditional Chinese ink painting and later ventured into the colorful world of oil painting. After studying in France, he returned to China and dedicated his entire life to exploring the integration of Chinese and Western art. In his later years, he returned to the realm of black and white with ink. Among the exhibits, there is "Cascade" which is the first artwork he donated to the museum in 1995. This significant piece is not only a quintessential black and white painting by Wu, but also a work that marks the beginning of the profound friendship between Wu Guanzhong and the museum.

Wu’s work, "Bitter melon homestead" displayed at the "Wu Guanzhong: Between Black and White" exhibition.

In the Cross-disciplinary Series: "WU GUANZHONG x CHRIS CHEUNG", Hong Kong artist Cheung has been commissioned to take inspiration from Wu's waterfall series of works and has created a site-specific art installation, "Falling Tears". Driven by rainfall data, the intricately programmed mechanical device pumps water upwards and lets it drip onto a specially made canvas. The resulting ink wash-like traces form a dynamic series of waterfalls. Another art installation is "Sentient Pond" by Cheung's creative team XCEED. Processed by artificial intelligence, the installation generates exclusive paintings by audience members that embody Wu's brushstrokes and style through machine learning over hundreds of Wu's paintings.

Art installation "Sentient Pond" by artist Chris Cheung's creative team XCEED

To allow members of the public to know more about the outstanding works of Wu and masters of his time, the museum is also launching the Dialogue with the 20th Century Chinese Art Series: "TRUE LIKENESS: THE ART AND COLLECTION OF JINGGUANLLOU", which showcases renowned collector and photographer Dr Leo Wong photographic works and his collection of 20th century Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The museum has also invited Hong Kong artist Olivier Cong to create original pieces of music for the exhibition. In his work "Diary 23", Cong creates music videos as a response to Wong's transformative artistic journey, capturing moments of transition and introspection. During the exhibition period, Cong will also put on three live music performances in the museum.

Photographic works by renowned collector and photographer Dr Leo Wong and his collection of 20th century Chinese paintings and calligraphy in the "True Likeness: The Art and Collection of Jingguanlou" exhibition

For further details of the exhibitions see;

https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events.html

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Oi! SPOTLIGHT EXHIBITIONS;

PEOPLE MOUNTAIN PEOPLE SEA BY GARY CARD (until 28th July 2024)

ENCOUNTERS: oi! oi! oi! (until 11th August 2024)

OIL STREET ART SPACE (Oi!) has launched two "Oi! Spotlight" exhibitions from 20th March 2024 featuring a multimedia exhibition by British artist Gary Card entitled "People Mountain People Sea by Gary Card" and a sound art exhibition entitled "encounters: oi! oi! oi!" curated by local art group Toolbox Percussion respectively to bring visitors new visual and auditory experiences.

"Oi! Spotlight" is Oil Street Art Space's annual flagship project held in Art March every year. It aims to showcase the creativity of both local and international artists, encourage cross-cultural dialogues, foster exchanges between regions and embrace innovative ideas.

British artist Gary Card, who was hailed as one of the most prominent young creators in London, held his first large-scale solo exhibition in Hong Kong. London-based Sylvia Zhan was invited as the exhibition's guest curator. Card has been highly sought after in the international art and fashion scenes and is often invited to collaborate with top artists and fashion designers worldwide. In the "People Mountain People Sea by Gary Card" exhibition, he transformed the century-old Oi! Warehouses into a contemporary multimedia art space, ingeniously using animation and sound to draw the audience into an immersive visual and sensory experience. A large-scale outdoor sculpture, "The Dream of Mr. Somebody" created by Card, is also displayed at Oi! Lawn, allowing visitors to learn more about how Card responded to today's overstimulating lifestyle. The exhibition is on display from 20th March to 28th July 2024 at Oi! Warehouse and Oi! Lawn.

“People Mountain People Sea by Gary Card" draws the audience into an immersive visual and sensory experience by using animations and sound effects

Another exhibition, "encounters: oi! oi! oi!", was curated by local art group Toolbox Percussion, which invited renowned composer Fung Lam to be the lead artist. Lam collaborated with four participating artists, including Louis Siu, Chan Wai-lap, Cam Wong and Simo Tse, to explore more possibilities in shaping soundscapes. Drawing inspirations from often-overlooked sounds and objects, they combined disassembled parts of percussion instruments and mechanical devices to create sound art works that produce echoes, guiding visitors to rediscover the forgotten sounds from their daily lives and embark on a multisensory journey within the bustling city. The exhibition is on display from 20th March to 11th August 2024 at Oi! Glassie.

Composer Fung Lam's percussive work "Round", performed by interacting and making sounds with mahjong tiles in specific ways, with a set of pre-determined music compositions

The exhibitions are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Oil Street Art Space. Oi! is located at 12 Oil Street, North Point. For programme details see;

https://www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/oi_projects_and_programmes.html

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POLAR RESEARCH AND CLIMATE CHANGE (until 26th June 2024)

HONG KONG SCIENCE MUSEUM has launched a new special exhibition, "Polar Research and Climate Change", running from 18th March to 26th June 2024, to showcase the mission and achievements of China's polar exploration icebreaker Xuelong 2, providing insights for visitors to think about the seriousness of climate change. Admission to the exhibition is free.

Delivered in 2019, Xuelong 2 is China's first domestically built medium-sized icebreaker, and is also the world's first icebreaker to adopt bidirectional icebreaking technology. The icebreaker's commissioning has equipped China to lead large-scale polar expeditions and enhanced China's capabilities of investigation and research in polar marine environments. Replicating the design of Xuelong 2, this exhibition allows visitors to feel as if they have boarded the vessel and learn about China's development of polar research. A large screen is set up inside the vessel to play videos of ice breaking in the polar regions, offering visitors an immersive experience. Highlight exhibits include a 1:100 scale model of Xuelong 2 and specimens collected directly from polar regions.

Exhibition area replicating the design of China's polar exploration icebreaker Xuelong 2, where visitors can feel as if they have boarded the vessel and learn about China's development of polar research

In addition to the features and research topics of the scientific observation and research stations in China, the exhibition also provides information on the geography and wildlife of the North and South Poles, as well as the situation of climate change. Members of the public can gain a deeper understanding of polar research through the exhibition, and reflect on how to reduce carbon footprints in daily life, combating the challenge of climate change.

Crew members and scientists of Xuelong 2 will visit Hong Kong and join a sharing session with Hong Kong students to be held at the museum on 10th April 10 to share their insights and experiences on polar expeditions. The museum will live-stream the programme via its YouTube channel;

https://www.youtube.com/hksciencemuseum

The exhibition is presented by the Environmental Campaign Committee and the Green Future Foundation Association, funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund, in association with the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Polar Research Institute of Hong Kong, and is organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum.

The exhibition is located in the main lobby of the Hong Kong Science Museum at 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East. For further information of the exhibition and sharing session see;

https://hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/exhibition/pracc.html

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A PATH TO GLORY – JIN YONG’S CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL, SCULPTED BY REN ZHE (until 7th October 2024)

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong). HONG KONG HERITAGE MUSEUM is staging the exhibition "A Path to Glory - Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe" from 16th March until 7th October 2024 with free admission. Renowned sculptor Ren Zhe brings 22 of Jin Yong's characters to life in unique representations to pay tribute to this heavyweight novelist. This exhibition is supported by Dr Cha’s family and Ming Ho Publications Corporation Limited and is the first authorised sculpture exhibition showcasing Jin Yong's classic martial arts characters.

Under the pseudonym Jin Yong, Dr Cha wrote 15 novels with over 1,400 characters, which were the collective memory of the Chinese people of Hong Kong and the world. The exhibition title "A Path to Glory" comes from a quote in "The Giant Eagle and its Companion", in which Guo Jing passed the chivalrous deed to Yang Guo and spoke of the imperative of a true hero along the lines of "To serve the country and the people is a path to glory". Sculptor Ren Zhe made use of his unique sculptural techniques, exquisite craftsmanship and visionary creativity to bring 22 of Jin Yong's well-known characters including Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Guo, Xiaolongnu, Linghu Chong, Feng Qingyang, Zhang Wuji and Ren Woxing to life.

The lively and spirited sculptures illustrated classic scenes from the novels as well as the martial arts skills of the characters. Highlight exhibits including a sculpture showing Guo Jing of "The Eagle-shooting Heroes" holding a bow in one arm and clasping the string with the other, displaying all the fearless ambition of the eagle-shooting hero; Huang Rong gracefully riding sideways on a Ferghana horse; Yang Guo of "The Giant Eagle and its Companion" having lost one arm, embracing his sword with the other; Xiaolongnu leaning lightly and effortlessly on a rope; and Xiao Feng, Xu Zhu and Duan Yu of "The Demi-Gods and the Semi-Devils" are in different postures, yet resonating with each other.

The exhibition is also set alongside multimedia installations created by media artist Victor Wong (winner of the Best Visual Effects of the Hong Kong Film Awards) and his team, to lead visitors into Jin Yong's imaginary world of martial arts. Apart from the Thematic Gallery, the museum brilliantly makes use of different spaces of the museum to set up sculptures. For example, visitors can find Zhang Wuji from "The Heaven Sword and the Dragon Sabre" practicing his invincible martial arts at the entrance of the lobby; the Four Guardian Kings of the Ming Cult being shown in their fighting poses at the courtyard; and Feng Qingyang from "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" who lives in seclusion, standing proudly at the Grand Staircase of the museum.

The sculpture “Guo Jing” staring into the sky, holding a bow in one arm and clasping the string with the other, arrows ready, displaying all the fearless ambition of an eagle-shooting hero; and the sculpture “Huang Rong” and her agile demeanour exuding an air of charisma as she gracefully rides sideways on a Ferghana horse

In addition to the 22 lifelike sculptures, the museum will also put on display a bust of Dr Cha donated by his family for the museum's permanent collection. This 60 centimetre-tall bust, sculpted by Ren Zhe and modelled on Dr Cha's image in his later years, will be displayed at the Jin Yong Gallery.

The Jin Yong Gallery was established in 2017 with the support from Dr Cha, displaying more than 300 exhibits featuring the early career of Jin Yong, the creative process behind his martial arts novels and the impact the novels have had on Hong Kong's pop culture. The exhibits include a couplet handwritten by Jin Yong, manuscripts of the Serialised "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer", and special issues for TV adaptations. The Jin Yong Gallery, which is widely welcomed by the public and tourists, has received over 2,600, 000 visitors since its opening.

To tie in with the exhibition, a series of special programmes will be held by the museum. They include the set-up of a reading corner in the exhibition gallery where visitors can revisit the fascinating plots of Jin Yong's compelling works through enjoying the collections or audiobooks of Jin Yong's martial arts novels of the Hong Kong Public Libraries after their visits to the exhibition. Other programmes include talks by renowned scholars to be held from April to June on Jin Yong and his world of martial arts, workshops "Martial Arts Secrets Resurface - Chinese Bookbinding" and "Shadow Heroes - Shadow Puppetry", and activity "Touring the fantastic martial arts world created by Jin Yong in Hanfu costume" specially arranged for museum pass holders. These can help audiences get further acquainted with Jin Yong's world of martial arts. The programmes also aim to let audiences know more about the Chinese culture embodied in the novels, including its history, literature, morals and values, and the influence of Jin Yong’s works on Chinese people.

The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and jointly organised by the HKHM and Guyu Cultural Development Foundation. For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/renzhe.html

This exhibition is one of the pre-programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year, the second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong’s pop culture. It encompasses both "Arts" (creative works) and "Action" (martial arts), an attempt to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture.

The event lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities, and its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong’s vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. For more information see;

https://www.pcf.gov.hk/en

Another exhibition of Ren Zhe, "A Path to Glory - Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial．The World of Wuxia" is on display at Edinburgh Place, Central, from 15th March to 2nd July 2024, showcasing 10 sculptures of Jin Yong’s iconic characters. The exhibition is supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau.

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SMALL SMALL WORLD PANORAMA (until 1st January 2025)

The HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART latest exhibition, "Small Small World Panorama" runs from 2nd February 2024 until 1st January 2025. The exhibition challenges the audiences' traditional impression about a museum gallery by turning it into a carnival-like space. The exhibition incorporates interactive installations and art accessibility facilities to engage visitors of different backgrounds and abilities to explore the museum through seeing, hearing and touching.

The museum offers a world of contrasts in art. Diversity in art is the point of departure of the "Small Small World Panorama". Understanding the collections of the museum from the angle of daily experiences and biodiversity in nature, 60 students, coming from Pat Heung Central Primary School, Bui O Public School and Ebenezer School, who joined workshops organised by the museum earlier, demonstrated their creativity by crafting buddies for their selected artworks from the collections. Together with a group of multidisciplinary artists, the students co-created an interactive exhibition with movable installations to encourage visitors to search for diversity and coexistence in art and life through games.

Visitors can ride on a monorail to visit the buddies in the Hush Forest, explore different exhibits in other galleries at the museum following the hints in the fruit trees and have the opportunity to redeem a small gift by taking photos. They can also learn more about the students' source of inspiration and the creation process through the videos in the gallery.

The exhibition incorporates interactive installations and art accessibility facilities to engage visitors of different backgrounds and abilities to explore the museum through seeing, hearing and touching

This exhibition specially provides accessibility facilities such as a tactile map, a braille and tactile guide book, simple words, audio descriptions and wheelchair-friendly access with a view to expanding the range of sensory experiences and enabling visitors from diverse cultural backgrounds, of different ages and with different abilities to explore the treasures of the museum through the lens of diversity.

The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The school workshops co-creation partner is Make A Difference Institute (MaD). Stephanie Cheung is the curatorial partner while Kingsley Ng is in charge of the exhibition design. Beyond Vision International is the consultant of the tactile booklet design and accessibility. The exhibition is being held at the Attic on the fifth floor of the museum at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/smallsmallworld.html

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TIMELESS DIVA: ANITA MUI (until 2nd September 2024)

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of superstar Anita Mui HONG KONG HERITAGE MUSEUM is presenting the exhibition "Timeless Diva: Anita Mui" from 24th December 2023 until 2nd September 2024. The exhibition showcases 70 sets of exhibits in relation to Mui including record covers, stage costumes, movie posters and film stills, and pop culture products such as collectable cards and TV magazines. Admission to the exhibition is free. Visitors can reminisce about the superstar's extraordinary achievements in music and film as well as review her significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong's pop culture. The museum extends special thanks to a close friend of Mui and prominent fashion and image designer, Mr Eddie Lau, for his generous donation of 20 sets of exhibits including eight stage costumes worn by Mui in different periods, which were donated in the early years, as well as the recently donated trophies and an autographed vinyl record by Mui.

Anita Mui led the development of local pop music and film to new heights as a superstar and a classic icon of Hong Kong's pop culture. The exhibition enables visitors to revisit Mui's ever-changing onstage roles, while looking back at her extraordinary artistic achievements in the music and film industry, and brilliant contributions to Hong Kong's pop culture.

Mui (1963-2003) made her debut at a singing contest in 1982. With her unique voice and solid singing skills, she found a place deep in people's hearts. Her unconventional music style and versatile image not only made her a spotlight of Hong Kong's music scene, but also took Cantopop to new heights and set a new benchmark for concerts. On the silver screen, she played one classic character after another with her unique personal charm and sophisticated acting skills. She had acted in a number of thrilling movies. Among them, the movie "Rogue" (1988) earned her "Best Actress" honours at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Golden Horse Awards and Asia-Pacific Film Festival, and was a major part of the heyday of Hong Kong cinema in the 1980s and 1990s. Having become a living legend, Mui was always a shining icon of Hong Kong's pop culture on the international stage. Time certainly flies, but the trendsetting "Ever-changing Diva" continues to influence people across the generations with her timeless works.

Highlight exhibits include the trophy Mui won for the TBS Award of The 12th Tokyo Music Festival, which is on display for the first time; the trophy for the Timeless Artistic Achievement Award of The 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards; an autographed vinyl record of "Fair Lady" by Mui; stage costume worn by Mui for the role of "Evil Girl" at "Anita Mui in Concert" in 1987-1988; the extravagant evening gown she wore at the grand finale of the last show of "Anita Mui Fantasy Gig" in 2002, and a series of movie posters and a black-and-white sketches of "Rouge". Videos of Mui's ever-changing personas in music and movies and radio interviews in the 1980s and 1990s are also featured at the exhibition, through which visitors can learn more about stories and achievements of this superstar.

Autographed vinyl record of "Fair Lady" by Anita Mui

December 30th would be the 60th birthday of Mui. The museum is specially arranging a movie screening of "Rouge" at 11am at the Theatre on 1/F, and a thematic talk at 3pm on the day. To complement the exhibition, a series of talks as well as busking performances will be organised by the museum between January and May 2024. Meanwhile, a vintage bus with special design of Mui will be parked and stationed at the car park of the museum for visitors to take photos on 30th and 31st December and on 1st, 13th and 14th January 2024.

The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, located at 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin. The opening hours of the museum will be specially extended to 7pm on 24th December.

For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/anitamui2023.html

The exhibition is one of the programmes organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and aims to tie in with the Government's new initiatives in promoting Hong Kong pop culture through a wide range of activities, ranging from pop concerts and performances to thematic exhibitions, film screenings, outdoor and outreach activities, showcasing Hong Kong's unique cultural creativity and vibrancy. For more information on upcoming events on Hong Kong pop culture see;

https://www.pcf.gov.hk/en/

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SCIENCE FICTION: VOYAGE TO THE EDGE OF IMAGINATION (until 29th May 2024)

HONG KONG SCIENCE MUSEUM’s special exhibition, "Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination" opens on 15th December 2023 and runs until 29th May 2024 allowing members of the public to explore different themes of science fiction. Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the exhibition is a roving exhibition developed by the Science Museum, London. Hong Kong is the first stop of this worldwide tour.

The growing popularity of science fiction can spark young people's interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) and inspire them to pursue careers in science and technology, thereby contributing to the country's strategic development and the growth of Hong Kong's innovation and technology ecosystem. The exhibition uncovers fascinating connections between significant scientific innovations and celebrated science fiction works. The exhibits interweave science, arts, movies and literature, appealing not just to science fans but also movie buffs as well as art and literature lovers.　

The exhibition is comprised of six immersive zones, namely "Shuttle and Cargo Bay", "Exploration Deck", "Bio Lab", "Planet Mission", "Visualisation Deck" and "Observation Deck". The zones explore respectively significant themes within science fiction, including space exploration, cyborgs, and future habitats through iconic exhibits featuring a variety of science fiction including films, literature and arts. Visitors may get the impression they have entered an interactive science fiction story which takes them beyond classical space travel to different themes of science fiction. The exhibition will inspire visitors to reflect on the societal implications of advancing technology as well as the opportunities and challenges they are facing today and tomorrow.

Highlight exhibits include a screen-used NS-5 robot from "I, Robot", a rare replica (one of the 12 in the world) of Xenomorph from the Alien made from the original casts held by the designer, a replica of U.S.S. Enterprise from "Star Trek" signed by the actors, a replica of Dalek from the long-running science fiction TV series "Doctor Who", a replica of Darth Vader Helmet from "Star Wars: A New Hope" and a replica of Mark III Armour from "Iron Man".

The technologically advanced creature, Dalek, from TV series "Doctor Who" (replica)

Apart from the collection of the Science Museum, London, the exhibition also includes many interactive elements developed by the Hong Kong Science Museum. A mural created by local artist Vivian Ho is on display, showcasing the intersection of science fiction and technological advancement together with animation. Visitors can also join a game by scanning QR codes at the exhibition gallery with their mobile devices and following instructions to collect gemstones for a reward of specially designed mobile wallpapers by the artist.

The museum is also launching a series of programmes to tie in with the exhibition. They include the museum's collaboration with the Hong Kong Public Libraries on the selection of various science fiction books at the exhibition, and the collaboration with the Film Programmes Office to offer free screening and post-screening talks under the programme "the !magine Fest" from December 2023 to January 2024. Audiences can revisit the two classic movies, "A Trip to the Moon" (1902) and "Forbidden Planet" (1956). For more information of the event see;

https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=56

Additionally, the Research Grants Council will present four lectures on 16th December and 20th January 2024 to introduce the latest research results of local higher education institutions on artificial intelligence and robotics.

The exhibition takes place at the special exhibition hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum at 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East.

For further information about the exhibition, admission fee and details of the programmes see;

https://hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/exhibition/scifi2023.html

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UNDER THE SAME ROOF: ORIGIN AND ART OF LINGNAN TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE (until 2nd June 2024)

Co-organised by the Development Bureau (DEVB), the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the exhibition "Under the Same Roof: Origin and Art of Lingnan Traditional Architecture" runs from 12th December 2023 until 2nd June 2024 at HONG KONG HERITAGE DISCOVERY CENTRE. It is the first exhibition jointly curated by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Exchange and Collaboration on Archaeological and Cultural Heritage Amongst the Greater Bay Area last year.

The exhibition showcases the history and features of Lingnan traditional architecture, as well as the culture and traditions of the Lingnan region and the Central Plains, which share the same origin. Featuring 170 painstakingly selected invaluable items/sets of exhibits from Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong, the exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to appreciate the distinctive features of Lingnan traditional architecture from a close distance. Most of the exhibits are displayed in Hong Kong for the first time. Highlight exhibits include the Panyu shrine, a grade-one national treasure from the Guangdong Museum of Folk Arts; the earliest discovered green-glazed barrel tile and board tile from the Nanyue King Museum; cased coloured glass windows and woven bamboo architectural decorative components from the Macao Museum; a carved red sandstone column base of the Chenghua reign of the Ming dynasty unearthed in Hong Kong; traditional building components on loan from various clans, temples and private organisations in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre is located in Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Admission is free.

For further details see;

https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/news/index_id_146.html?year=2023

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THE REFLECTION – ART AND DESIGN OF HON BING-WAH (until 15^th April 2024)

"The Reflection - Art & Design of Hon Bing-wah" exhibition is being staged from 15^th November 2023 until 15^th April 2024 at the HONG KONG HERITAGE MUSEUM featuring over a hundred selected works and sketches created by renowned local designer and artist Professor Hon Bing-wah since the 1970s, so that members of the public can learn more about the artistic journey of this master and pioneer of local design.

Professor Hon is committed to promoting the development of the design industry until of Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as the combining of the Western and Eastern elements as well as the use of elements of the Chinese traditions and local culture. Professor Hon has been active in artistic creation since he joined the design industry in the 1970s. In addition to commercial design, he has also actively engaged in different types of public and charity design projects and made significant contributions to public services and culture promotion. Through Professor Hon's designs, drawings, sculptures and public art works displayed in this exhibition, visitors can observe Professor Hon's passion for the Chinese culture and appreciate his diverse forms of art and design combining the East and West, and old and new elements.

Professor Hon is a renowned local designer and artist who is a visionary pioneer in promoting the seamless integration of Eastern and Western elements, by integrating the Western design concept with Chinese traditions and local culture. His works, ranging from graphic to three-dimensional displays, embody humanistic ideas and reflect his concern for the community. Apart from commercial design, he took part in the modification and finalisation of the design of the Regional Flag and Regional Emblem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and designed logos for numerous public, charity and cultural institutions.

Model of "Transformation", a piece of public art installed in the Sculpture Walk, Kowloon Park

Highlight exhibits include art installation "Bauhinia", poster designs "Cultural Value Redeeming Culture" and "Peace - Kiss or Kill", logo designs for the Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, embroidery pattern design "Dragon", and a model of "Transformation", a piece of public art installed in the Sculpture Walk, Kowloon.

Hong Kong Heritage Museum is located at 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin. For further details see;

https://hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/hon-bing-wah.html

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CINDERELLA AND HER QIPAO (until 5th May 2024)

The HONG KONG FILM ARCHIVE is staging the "Cinderella and Her Qipao" exhibition at the Exhibition Hall of the Archive from 3rd November 2023 until 5th May 2024, displaying 31 pieces of qipao costume in films from the 1950s to the 1990s to showcase the fashion trends in films of different eras. This exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2023.

Movie stories are often fictional but costumes help make the characters real. They also reflect a fashion trend. The exhibition is divided into two sections, "The Fashion Show" and "Recreating the Past", according to different time periods the films are set in, from the Republican era to the present day. Visitors can savour the beauty and style of iconic actresses while contemplating the contributions of costumes to the narrative and artistic aspects, and learning how costume designers constructed the image of actresses and characters through the application of different patterns of the fabric.

The qipao dresses in the exhibition were worn by iconic actresses in various films, including Li Lihua in "Red Rose" (1952), Luo Lan in "Modern Red Chamber Dream" (1952), Hsia Moon in "Tales of the City" (1954), Betty Loh Ti in "Malayan Affair" (1960), Linda Lin Dai in "The Blue and the Black" (1966), Brigitte Lin in "Red Dust" (1990) and Maggie Cheung in "Center Stage" (1992). In addition, related film clips and film stills will be displayed at the exhibition, allowing visitors to have a better understanding of qipao costumes.

Admission to the exhibition is free. For further details see;

https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/pe-event-2023-qipao.html

The first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival was launched in April 2023, aiming to showcase Hong Kong's unique cultural creativity and vibrancy through exhibitions, film screenings and pop concerts. For more information on other fascinating programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival see;

https://www.pcf.gov.hk/en/

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BLACK HOLE: THE INFORMATION BARRIER (until 27th May 2024)

HONG KONG SPACE MUSEUM has launched a new free special exhibition, "Black Hole: the Information Barrier", leading visitors to explore the enigma of a black hole. The exhibition runs from 25th November 2023 until 27th May 2024.

The idea of black holes was first proposed by scientists over 200 years ago, suggesting that the gravitational field of these cosmic behemoths was so intense that not even light could escape. Nevertheless a consensus on their existence was never reached until after decades of research, when scientists finally found concrete evidence confirming the existence of the cosmic voids. To scientists' amazement, black holes are not only crucial to the evolution of the universe but also hold the key to decipher its deepest mysteries.

Spanning across seven different zones, the exhibition unfolds the history of black hole research, unravel the intricate anatomy of black holes as well as their intriguing births and deaths. Visitors can also gain insight into the latest black hole research being conducted through the work of local scholars.

Through a series of interesting interactive exhibits, the exhibition enables visitors to have a simulated experience of plunging into a black hole, hear haunting sounds converted from gravitational waves created by black holes, uncover the technology of producing black hole images through 3D puzzles, and learn the scientific principles underpinning the detection of gravitational waves. Additionally, the exhibition will delve into the mind-boggling black hole information paradox and provoke thoughts regarding the potential utilisation of black holes as a new resource.

The 3D puzzles at the exhibition introduce the technology of producing black hole images

The free exhibition is staged in the foyer of the museum, located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Astronomy film shows and lecture related to black holes will also be held by the Hong Kong Space Museum. For further details of the exhibition and programmes see;

https://hk.space.museum/en/web/spm/exhibitions/special-exhibitions/black-hole-the-information-barrier.html

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YESTERDAY’S VACATION IN HK (until September 2024)

The PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE of the Government Records Service has launched its annual thematic exhibition "Yesterday's Vacation in HK", which takes visitors on a journey through Hong Kong's past. The exhibition runs from 15th September 2023 until September 2024.

Featuring a selection of tourism-related archival holdings from the 1950s to the 1980s, the exhibition unveils visitors' diverse experiences in the city and a variety of tourist attractions under four themes, namely "Sight and Scenes", "Shopping Paradise", "Paradise for Foodies", and "Happenings in the City". Do you still remember how the original Peak Tower - one of the distinctive landmarks in Hong Kong - looked like before its redevelopment? How did the Sung Dynasty Village and the Haw Par Mansion demonstrate Chinese traditional culture and characteristics? In addition to the sightseeing spots in urban areas, the information for visitors at that time also recommended various attractions beyond the city's hustle and bustle, such as the New Territories and the outlying islands, to visitors craving a relaxing holiday.

The exhibition also sheds light on different facets of lives in old Hong Kong. Shopping malls began to emerge in Hong Kong in the 1960s, which allowed visitors to shop at modern and glamorous shopping arcades apart from treasure hunting at street-level shops and traditional markets. Sampans at the typhoon shelters, floating restaurants, dai pai dongs (on-street cooked food stalls), and Chinese restaurants are the common food memories of both locals and visitors of Hong Kong. A wide range of events, including the Dragon Boat Festival races and the Festival of Asian Arts, were windows for visitors to experience the city's unique blend of traditional and modern elements. The "Yesterday's Vacation in HK" exhibition provides an entry point to rediscover Hong Kong's distinctiveness through the lens of visitors.

In the 1960s, shopping malls began to emerge in Hong Kong. Modern and glamourous shopping arcades provided visitors with convenience and endless choices. Apart from big shopping complexes, visitors would also treasure hunt at street-level shops and traditional markets.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the Exhibition Hall where a selection of over 70 archival holdings is on view. A thematic backdrop near the entrance of the Exhibition Hall offers a photogenic spot for visitors to begin their exhibition journey. An "Exhibition Pass" booklet is also available on-site. The exhibition opens from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5.45pm (except for public holidays), in the Exhibition Hall on the second floor of the Hong Kong Public Records Building, 13 Tsui Ping Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. Admission is free.

Members of the public can find more precious archival images by browsing the online exhibition;

https://www.grs.gov.hk/ws/online/yvhk/en/home/index.html

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EXTINCTION – RESILIENCE (from 15th September 2023 until further notice)

"Extinction·Resilience" is the inaugural exhibition of HONG KONG SCIENCE MUSEUM's new and permanent exhibition gallery, "Palaeontology Gallery". The exhibition presents the challenges and evolution that life has gone through since the Ediacaran Period 635 million years ago.

The exhibition is divided into six zones to introduce five major mass extinction events that occurred in the Earth's long geological history. The exhibition features over 100 sets of precious animal and plant fossils of different periods. Valuable exhibits include a woolly mammoth fossil more than 3 metres tall from the Quaternary ice ages; the most complete Deinonychus fossil to date; 1:1 fossil replicas of prehistoric marine predator fish species Xiphactinus, Megalodon and Dunkleosteus; and fossilised Dryobalanoxylon wood specimens that were formed in Indonesia 2 to 4 million years ago. The exhibition also showcases lifelike robotic dinosaurs and interesting interactive exhibits featuring knowledge on fossil excavation, prehistoric environment and the evolution of life, etc. It holds an open ending with the depiction of an ongoing risk of the sixth mass extinction that calls for human efforts to boost wildlife conservation and environmental protection.

Woolly mammoth fossil over 3 metres tall. (Collection of National Natural History Museum of China)

The exhibition runs from 15th September 2023 and is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum, and supported by the National Natural History Museum of China, the Nina Park of Chinachem Group and Vegasoul Capital Management (Asia) Limited. The Hong Kong Science Museum is located at 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East.

For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.science.museum/en/web/scm/exhibition/pg.html

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THE ART OF LIVING: STATIONERY AND TEA ACCESSORIES OF THE CHINESE LITERATI (until 30th September 2024)

FLAGSTAFF HOUSE MUSEUM OF TEA WARE is staging an exhibition "The Art of Living: Stationery and Tea Accessories of the Chinese Literati", featuring nearly 100 sets of stationery items and tea accessories of the Ming and Qing dynasties selected from the collections of the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware to illustrate the passion for antiquity and aesthetics of the Chinese literati. The exhibition runs from 2nd August 2023 until 30th September 2024. Admission is free.

Since the Ming dynasty, Chinese literati had developed an increasingly sophisticated lifestyle with a keen interest in stationery and collectibles to demonstrate their superior taste and socio-economic standing. These items were crafted by skilled artisans employing fine techniques and various materials, and they conveyed a feeling of uniqueness and cultural significance. The exhibition presents artefacts including stationery, collectibles and tea accessories made of materials such as bamboo, jade, stone and purple clay. Through the exhibition, visitors can learn more about the significance of these materials and the objects made from them in the Chinese culture and literati life.

Highlight exhibits include an incense-burner made of bamboo and a jade wrist-rest used in writing carved with bamboo design from the Qing dynasty; a brush washer in lotus shape said to be the work of Chen Mingyuan, a renowned zisha master from the Qing dynasty; a teapot in gourd shape with prunus painted in famille-rose enamel created by calligrapher, painter and seal engraver Qu Yingshao from the Qing dynasty; and a rhinoceros horn cup carved with mantis and butterfly design.

In addition to qin (Chinese zither), chess, calligraphy, painting, reading and meditation, tea appreciation was also popular among the literati. At gatherings, the literati would consume tea and exchange ideas and they were very conscientious about the usage of tea equipment, the environment and the logistics of preparing a tea ceremony. The exhibition will introduce to visitors the basic setup of a Chinese tea ceremony. Visitors can create their own design of tea ceremony through an interactive installation titled "Tea Appreciation Space: My Proposal for Tea Ceremony", to experience the charm of Chinese tea culture and enjoy the elegance of tea appreciation.

Interactive installation titled "Tea Appreciation Space: My Proposal for Tea Ceremony". Visitors can learn about the basic setup of a Chinese tea ceremony and create their own design of tea ceremony, to experience the charm of Chinese tea culture and enjoy the elegance of tea appreciation

Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware is located at 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central (inside Hong Kong Park). For further details of the exhibition and opening hours see;

https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/mt-thematic-exhibition.html

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ART PERSONALISED: MASTERPIECES FROM THE HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART (from 30th June 2023 until further notice)

"Art Personalised: Masterpieces from the Hong Kong Museum of Art" exhibition is being held at the HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART from 30th June 2023 until further notice. Featuring nearly 100 artworks of different styles from ancient and modern times from the museum's rich collection, the exhibits are grouped in four personality types for display, offering visitors an interactive and interesting way to appreciate art and enabling them to embark on a personalised aesthetic journey.

Visitors are encouraged to take a personality test before their visits to find out their personality types. Then, based on the test results, they can enter the four different exhibition zones, namely Adventurer, Perfectionist, Elegance and Fashionista, to appreciate their exclusive artworks on display in line with their personality types. Highlight exhibits include Wu Guanzhong's "Wind from the sea", Lam Yau-sum's "Metal tree", a jar with dragons amid wave design in underglaze blue from the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty, a tea bowl with hare's fur striations in black glaze, Jianyang ware of Fujian from the Northern Song dynasty, and Zhang Wei's "Fountain‧Fan Kuan vs Duchamp". The museum has invited artist Joey Leung to custom-make corresponding hand-painted characters for the selected artworks in the personality test while five exclusive scents are also crafted for different exhibition zones by the Hong Kong brand Scentory, and limited-edition scented stickers will be distributed in the exhibition gallery.

Interactive installation in the "Elegance" exhibition zone

The museum has also invited two Hong Kong artists Angela Yuen and Bovey Lee to create new site-specific art installations with inspiration from the museum collection. Angela Yuen used found objects and turned them into a kinetic art installation "Land Ho!". The interplay of light and shadow creates a dreamy landscape that expresses her feelings towards Hong Kong's diverse culture. Cut paper artist Bovey Lee frequently travels between Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Her artwork "Bird Song‧Flower Scent" features a large pond with ripples hand-cut by the artist, constructing a world of beauty that blends reality and illusion with the technology of augmented reality, and honouring and promoting Chinese traditional craftsmanship in a contemporary sense. The artwork also reflects her nostalgia for her homeland in a foreign land.

The exhibition is located at The Wing on the first floor and ground floor of the museum at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon with free admission.

For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/art-personalised-masterpieces-from-the-hkmoa.html

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TRACES OF HUMAN TOUCH (until further notice)

An exhibition, "Traces of Human Touch", organised by the INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OFFICE (ICH Office) under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is open to the public from 19th May 2023 until further notice. The exhibition is located at CLP Pulse, which has been revitalised from a Grade 1 historic building. Ten items of traditional craftsmanship and performing arts which belong to local intangible cultural heritage (are showcased in the exhibition to enhance the understanding by the public of the preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage. Despite having no physical form, intangible cultural heritage is an important element for community cohesion. Through oral traditions and practical applications, intangible cultural heritage can be transmitted from generation to generation. Traditional craftsmanship meets the needs of everyday life while performing arts foster a rich and colourful existence. All these give tangible expression to intangible beliefs, etiquettes and customs as well as aesthetic ideas.

The guest curator of the exhibition "Traces of Human Touch", Stanley Siu, makes use of the exhibits, interactive installations and videos to showcase three sections, namely "Apparel and Footwear", "Ornaments and Decorations" and "Words and Sounds", with 10 intangible cultural heritage items including the Hong Kong cheongsam-making technique, leather shoe-making technique, wooden furniture-crafting technique, patterned band-weaving technique, karat gold jewellery-making technique, jade carving technique, movable-type printing technique, putting up huichun (spring scrolls), seal carving technique and nanyin (southern tunes). Through the display of these ICH items, vitality and creativity as a result of the interactions between master and apprentice are demonstrated.

Video and an interactive game of the intangible cultural heritage item, putting up huichun (spring scrolls)

CLP Pulse is located at 147 Argyle Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon. Admission is free. The exhibition will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. For further details of the exhibition see the ICH Office website;

https://www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/traces_of_human_touch.html

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A MAN BEYOND ORDINARY: BRUCE LEE (long term exhibition until 2026)

The "A Man Beyond the Ordinary: Bruce Lee" exhibition is being held from 28th November 2021 for five years until 2026 at the HONG KONG HERITAGE MUSEUM to showcase around 400 items of Bruce Lee memorabilia and photos, which will enable visitors to look back at the legend of the internationally famous martial arts superstar.

Bruce Lee (1940–1973) was born Lee Jun-fon. He combined various schools of martial arts to create what is known as Jeet Kune Do, and his martial arts movies became classics. Behind the spotlight, Lee loved his family and enjoyed reading. He expressed his emotions and ideas in letters and other types of writing. Through daily training and reflection, he went beyond his limits and became a legend. Following the "Bruce Lee: Kung Fu‧Art‧Life" exhibition which ran from 2013 to 2020, the museum has collaborated with the Bruce Lee Foundation again to present the exhibition "A Man Beyond the Ordinary: Bruce Lee", which features how Lee's perseverance gave birth to the legend that is Bruce Lee through his films, martial arts and life story.

Highlighted exhibits include a baby jacket worn by Lee; a fencing mask he used while studying in Hong Kong; his exam revision notes taken at the University of Washington; his letter to his wife Linda, written while filming "The Big Boss" in Thailand; the first edition of the first book published by him, "Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self-Defense"; Jeet Kune Do plaques, and the original set design drawings for the film "Enter the Dragon". Various large-scale lighting exhibits and interactive installations have also been added to the exhibition, including an optical fibre interactive projection installation which displays Lee's martial arts ideas and life philosophy; and an immersive light and sensory installation "Self．Martial Arts．Emptiness", which illustrates Lee's self-actualisation concept.

Classic yellow jumpsuit worn by Bruce Lee in the film "The Game of Death"

Photos of Bruce Lee with his wife Linda, son Brandon and daughter Shannon

The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and is jointly organised by the Bruce Lee Foundation and Hong Kong Heritage Museum and sponsored by Fortune Star Media Limited. Due to copyright restrictions no photography and video-recording is permitted in the exhibition gallery.

Hong Kong Heritage Museum is located a 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, New Territories. It is open from 10am to 6pm on weekdays, and from 10am to 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. It is closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays). The museum is within three minutes walk of Che Kung Temple Station, on MTR Ma On Shan Line.

For further details of the exhibition and admission arrangements see;

https://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid269.html