CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

BROTHERS IN ARMS: WAR OF RESISTANCE ACTIVITIES OF THE EAST RIVER COLUMN IN SHENZHEN AND HONG KONG (until 2nd July 2025)

The thematic exhibition "Brothers in Arms: War of Resistance Activities of the East River Column in Shenzhen and Hong Kong" was launched at the HONG KONG MUSEUM OF THE WAR OF RESISTANCE AND COASTAL DEFENCE on 4th September 2024 to coincide with conversion of the museum, previously known as The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence. The exhibition runs until 2nd July 2025 and admission is free.

New logo of the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence following its conversion from the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence

The exhibition focuses on the War of Resistance activities of the East River Column in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. Precious exhibits and historical images in the new exhibition include a cloth bag, a felt blanket and a revolver used by members of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column during wartime, newspapers published by the East River Column (replica), the first issue of the "Tati Pictorial" published in Hong Kong in November 1938, cartoon images of "Miscellaneous Memories of One Hundred Days in Dongjiang" created by cartoonist Ding Cong, and a commemorative medal of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, as well as valuable oral history records from veterans.

An American M1911A1 pistol and the first issue of the “Tati Pictorial”, published in Hong Kong in November 1938. The content of the pictorial promoted the War of Resistance and the salvation of the nation.

The four existing exhibition galleries at the museum showcasing the history of the War of Resistance, namely the "Narrative of the War of Resistance", "Join Hands to Resist Japanese Invasion", "Japanese Invasion of Hong Kong" and "Anti-Japanese Guerrillas behind Enemy Lines" galleries, are collectively known as the "War of Resistance Galleries". Through the display of massive historic photos and artefacts as well as multimedia programmes, the history of the War of Resistance as well as the activities of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column behind enemy lines will be shown to recognise the significant contribution of the column. After the conversion, the Certificate of Commendation (replica) presented by the HKSAR Government to the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column, and the name list of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column on the Roll of Honour 1941-1945 who lost their lives during the period of Japanese occupation, is displayed near the entrance of the museum's Reception Building to highlight their importance.

Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence is located at 175 Tung Hei Road, Shau Kei Wan. For further information of the exhibition, museum opening hours and transportation serving the museum see;

https://hk.waranddefence.museum/en/web/mcd/home.html

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WEDDING STORIES IN ARCHIVES (until August 2025)

The PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE of the GOVERNMENT RECORDS SERVICE launched its annual thematic exhibition "Wedding Stories in Archives" on 2nd September 2024 to share with members of the public the evolution of Hong Kong's marriage systems and wedding customs.

The earliest law related to civil marriage in Hong Kong was enacted in 1852, which was more than 170 years ago. How have marriage registration laws and systems evolved? Why were early Registrars of Marriages also Land Officers? And what are the distinctive features of traditional wedding scenes, rituals and celebrations? Is the "blind year effect" an urban myth or a real phenomenon?

The "Wedding Stories in Archives" exhibition presents over 70 selected items. Apart from Public Records Office's holdings, there are also items from the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Immigration Department, and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Archives, that reveal intriguing information and guide members of the public in exploring the evolution of the following Hong Kong marriage systems and customs including various ways in which couples tied the knot before the enactment of the marriage law, the validity of marriages performed during the Japanese Occupation and the institutionalisation of monogamous marriage in 1971.

Many traditional wedding customs have fallen out of favour or been simplified over time. Images displayed in the exhibition, including a register of betrothal gifts, notices about marriages, and scenes of the bride being carried to the bridegroom's place in a red sedan chair, offer glimpses into Hong Kong's past wedding customs. Additionally, the exhibition revisits the development of marriage registries, including the opening of the first Sub-Registry for marriages in Kowloon in 1956, and the relocation of the Principal Marriage Registry to the High Block of Hong Kong City Hall in 1962 — places steeped in the collective memory of citizens.

The Marriage Reform Ordinance, which mandated monogamy, came into effect on October 7, 1971. Couples of modern marriages or customary marriages celebrated in Hong Kong before October 7, 1971, would be issued with marriage certificates after post-registration formalities

The "Wedding Stories in Archives" exhibition is open from 2nd September until further notice from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5-45pm (except public holidays), at the Exhibition Hall on the second floor of the Hong Kong Public Records Building at 13 Tsui Ping Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. Admission is free. To enhance visitors' experience, a new optical illusion backdrop featuring traditional wedding themes has been exclusively set up near the entrance to the Exhibition Hall. Visitors who complete missions on the exhibition leaflet will receive special souvenirs.

To facilitate those who are unable to visit in person, the Public Records Office has developed an online exhibition;

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

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LAUNCH FROM GREATER BAY AREA: NANHAI I SHIPWRECK AND THE MARITIME SILK ROAD (until 12th February 2025)

Featuring artefacts discovered from Nanhai I, an ocean-going merchant ship, and relevant artefacts from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the "Launch from Greater Bay Area: Nanhai I Shipwreck and the Maritime Silk Road" exhibition showcases the role of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on the Maritime Silk Road. The exhibition runs at HONG KONG HERITAGE DISCOVERY CENTRE, Kowloon Park, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, from 16th August 2024 to 12th February 2025.

Nanhai I was a merchant ship of the Southern Song dynasty. Its shipwreck was salvaged in 2007 and is the most complete ancient ocean-going merchant ship discovered through archaeological excavation to date. A large collection of artefacts was discovered from Nanhai I, mainly porcelain, bronzeware, ironware, gold, silverware, lacquerware and woodenware. The quantities, shapes, craftsmanship and forms of the artefacts are rare among the archaeological finds of the Southern Song dynasty. Archaeologists believe that Nanhai I might have sunk along the maritime route from Guangdong to the South China Sea in the 10th year of the Chunxi reign (1183) of the Southern Song dynasty or shortly afterwards.

Among the 255 items of exhibits are artefacts discovered from Nanhai I, including a brown glazed jar with four lugs and stamped with the Chinese characters "Chun Xi Shi Nian" (i.e. the 10th year of the Chunxi reign) from the Nanhai kiln; a qingbai glazed foliated bowl with stamped plum blossom pattern from the Jingdezhen kiln; a green glazed ogee-shaped foliated dish with incised lotus pattern from the Longquan kiln; a necklace with gold chain and rhinoceros horn-shaped cone ornaments; and a gem-set hollow gold bracelet. Also on display are relevant exhibits unearthed from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, including the bottom fragment of a qingbai glazed bowl with inked Chinese characters "Gong Shi" (i.e. envoy) from the Hutian kiln of the Song dynasty from the site of the Nanyue Kingdom Palace in Guangzhou; a yellowish-green glazed jar with six lugs and dragon pattern of the Song dynasty from the site of the former Sacred Hill in Hong Kong; and a blue-and-white kendi with elephant head shaped spout from the Jingdezhen kiln of the Ming dynasty from the site of St. Paul's College in Macao.

Yellowish-green glazed jar with six lugs and dragon pattern of the Song dynasty discovered at the site of the former Sacred Hill in Hong Kong

The exhibition is co-organised by the Development Bureau and the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region. Admission is free. A short video about the preparation of the exhibition is available on the website of the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the Bureau;

https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/news/index_id_153.html?year=2024

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MASTER OF ALL CRAFTS: INVESTITURE OF THE GODS’ ON THE RIDGE OF LO PAN TEMPLE (until 20th September 2024)

An exhibition "Master of All Crafts: 'Investiture of the Gods' on the Ridge of Lo Pan Temple", displaying the restored two-sided pottery ridge of the second hall of Lo Pan Temple, is running from 11th August to 20th September 2024 at the HONG KONG HERITAGE DISCOVERY CENTRE.

Located in Kennedy Town, Lo Pan Temple is the only temple in Hong Kong that worships Lo Pan as the main deity. It has been recommended by the Antiquities Advisory Board to be a declared monument and has been restored with funding support from the Financial Assistance for Maintenance Scheme on Built Heritage of the Development Bureau.

The design of the two-sided pottery ridges in the two halls of the temple was inspired by the novel "Investiture of the Gods". The ridges are decorated on the front and rear, bringing the total number of decorated faces to four, which is rare in Hong Kong. The ridge decorations exemplify the exquisite craftsmanship of the renowned pottery ridge shop Junyu in Shiwan, Foshan. The exhibition showcases the two-sided pottery ridge of the second hall of the temple with the depiction of the opening and final scenes of "Investiture of the Gods", giving prominence to the second hall of the temple where the deities are revered.

The rear side of the restored two-sided pottery ridge of the second hall of Lo Pan Temple

Presented by the Commissioner for Heritage's Office and the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the Development Bureau with the support of Hong Kong Lo Pan Kwong Yuet Tong, the exhibition will run until September 20. The two-sided pottery ridge will be reinstalled at the temple after the exhibition.

A short video about the restoration of Lo Pan Temple is available on the Antiquities and Monuments Office website;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxYr-LpXa7s

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A LAUGH AT THE WORLD: JAMES WONG (until 10th February 2025)

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of renowned culture figure James Wong, HONG KONG HERITAGE MUSEUM is staging an exhibition "A Laugh at the World: James Wong" from 17th July 2024 until 10th February 2025 with free admission. Around 140 sets of exhibits, selected from collection items of various museums of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and loan exhibits, will be displayed to illustrate the pop culture master's contributions to music, film, television, advertising, literature and more. Members of the public will be able to learn about the cultural integration of his works, as well as how he translated traditional contents into contemporary pop culture creations.

Hong Kong's pop culture reflects its eclecticism and contains cultural elements of the East and the West, of old and new and of high and low. Cantonese pop songs, movies and TV dramas showcase the blossoming of Hong Kong's pop culture scene since the 70s and 80s in the last century. The thriving in Hong Kong's pop culture industry was attributable to the efforts paid by artists in the music, television and film industries as well as the production crew members behind the scenes. Credits should also be given to talented local creators, one of whom is Dr Wong Jum-sum, aka James Wong. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of Wong. The exhibition highlights his classic works to appreciate his unique creativity, deep knowledge and great dedication, and feel the immense charm of Hong Kong's pop culture.

The exhibition is a key programme of the second Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival. The second edition this year features "Arts & Action" as its theme and has attracted over 400, 000 participants as at late June. The first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department last year organised a total of 21 programmes drawing over 530,000 participants.

James Wong (1941-2004), born Wong Jum-sum, was a renowned cultural figure and literary genius in Hong Kong. Wong, who moved to Hong Kong with his family in his childhood, was raised and received education in the city. He was a complete local. Having been active in various cultural and performing arts media platforms since the 1950s, Wong was good at writing lyrics, writing and composing music, writing columns, making movies, advertising creations and stage performances. He had been contributing articles to newspapers since the age of 12, and later became a professional writer. His columns and articles on newspapers had reached 10 million words. Wong's musical tastes spanned a diverse spectrum, encompassing Western classical, European and American pop, Indian, and avant-garde styles. He took an eclectic approach in adopting the various musical styles, while actively passing on traditional Chinese opera culture. His life coincided with several important development stages of post-war Hong Kong, making a significant impact on the development of the city's pop culture.

Wong created many popular songs, four of which are used to connect Wong's life in the exhibition. The song "Below the Lion Rock" portraits the spirit of Hong Kong people sharing joys and sorrows and staying united in times of trouble. The exhibition begins with this song which tells the story of Wong moving from the Mainland to Hong Kong in the 1940s and seeing trams on the Hong Kong Island for the first time. The second part "Ask Me" reveals how Wong's literature and music teachers enlightened him during his years of studying in Hong Kong, which paved the way for his achievements in the future. The third part "Breadth and Depth of Mountains and Waters" introduces Wong's participation and creative works in different media, such as the advertising song "Two is Enough" that Wong wrote for the publicity campaign on birth control launched by the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong. The final section "It's him, you and me" allows visitors to learn more about how Wong had had close ties with cultural celebrities and stories behind his classic works.

Selected collection items from the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Film Archive and Hong Kong Central Library as well as loan exhibits are on display in this exhibition. They include precious record covers of the popular TV drama series theme song "Below the Lion Rock" with lyrics by Wong and composed by his music collaborator Joseph Koo, and another classic work by the pair, the theme song of TV drama series "The Bund"; as well as the classic children's song "It's a Small World" for which Wong wrote the Cantonese lyrics. The exhibits also include two film posters for "The Love Eterne" and "Lady General Hua Mulan", in which Wong provided backing vocals, and the film poster for "In-Laws, Out-Laws", which stars Wong as one of the actors and marked his final film appearance.

The exhibition also showcases many exhibits related to Wong and his friends, such as the painting of Joseph Koo and Wong painted by Koo based on a photograph of the pair, courtesy of Koo's family; script and lyrics manuscripts for the major musical "Liuyi's Letter" produced by Roman Tam with Wong as the script writer and lyricist; and a photo of Wong and Eddie Lau.

Visitors can scan the QR codes in the gallery to listen to sound clips of Wong's audio interviews and watch his interview videos to understand his thoughts and feelings about creative works and life. A lyrics room is set up to show projections of lyrics written by Wong with music playing.

To tie in with the exhibition, a series of cultural activities will be held by the museum. They include two talks by renowned scholars to be held on 10th August and 31st August on Wong and the heyday of Hong Kong's pop culture, and characteristics of Wong's music composition. The music sharing "James Wong’s Greatest Hits on Vinyl" to be held on 14th September will revisit Wong's signature playlists. A workshop on laughter yoga to be held on 5th October and 16th November will pay a special tribute to Wong for his enduring legacy in infusing positive energy into his lyrics. In addition, the museum will hold a film screening of "Peking Opera Blues" (1986) with a post-screening talk on 23rd November about Wong's musical works for the film. In January, 2025, a workshop "A Stroke of Luck: Having Fun with Festive Couplets" will be organised in which local artist Vivian Chia will reinterpret Wong's finest lines on festive couplets with her signature style of "typing" calligraphy.

Other programmes centered on Wong by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department include "The Hong Kong Musicians Series: Music Document Highlights of Joseph Koo & James Wong" exhibition being held by the Hong Kong Public Libraries. Meanwhile, Tai Kwun is staging Summer Show "Soundtrack of Our Lives: Joseph Koo x James Wong x the Rise of Cantopop".

For further details of the exhibition see;

https://hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/james-wong.html

The exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival in 2023 to great acclaim. This year's second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture. The 2024 festival lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities. 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 further information see;

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

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THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB SERIES: FRAGRANCE OF TIME – IN SEARCH OF CHINESE ART OF SCENT (until 16th October 2024)

"The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Fragrance of Time - In Search of Chinese Art of Scent" exhibition runs from 28th June to 16th October 2024 at the HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART featuring a selection of artefacts from the Shanghai Museum collection that are classified as national graded treasures, with over half of them not having been exhibited outside Mainland China before. The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Shanghai Museum; jointly organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Shanghai Museum, and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

The 109 sets of exhibits from the Shanghai Museum collection and 51 sets from the Hong Kong Museum of Art collection include ceramics, bamboo carvings, paintings and bronze objects that span the Neolithic period to the 20th century, taking audiences on a visual and olfactory journey across thousands of years. Highlight exhibits include the Grade-1 national treasures, a Buddha statue from the Southern Liang dynasty and a painting by Chen Hongshou, a renowned painter of the Ming dynasty.

The exhibition focuses on a Chinese fragrance culture that had a profound and extensive history in the daily lives of people in ancient China. Hong Kong was also an important trading hub for fragrance materials in the past. This exhibition features a selection of 160 precious items from the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Shanghai Museum, displaying the significance of Chinese fragrance culture in different periods.

This year, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region established the Chinese Culture Promotion Office, and organised the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival (CCF), showcasing the broad and profound Chinese culture, enhancing cultural confidence and national identity among the people of Hong Kong through diverse cultural programmes and activities. Each year, the festival will designate a focal city, with Shanghai being the focus in this first edition. Besides this exhibition, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will also bring to the public performances from the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company and the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra.

The Chinese culture of fragrance has a long and rich history. The use and appreciation of fragrances are closely intertwined with the aesthetics of ancient life and artistic creations. The exhibition is divided into four sections, namely Botanical Aroma, Intimate Scents, Heavenly Fragrances and Worldly Perfumes, exploring Chinese fragrance culture from different perspectives. The Hong Kong Museum of Art has also set up a corresponding scent corner for each section, offering a suspended aromatic installation that allows visitors to experience the delights of scent appreciation in ancient China.

Highlight exhibits from the Shanghai Museum include two Grade-1 national treasures on display in Hong Kong for the first time, namely "Lady reclining on a cage over a censer" by Chen Hongshou from the Ming dynasty; and a gold-painted stone Sakyamuni Buddha dedicated by Shi Huiying from the Southern Liang dynasty, as well as 13 sets of Grade-2 national treasures. The Grade-2 national treasure, "The eighteen scholars" from the Ming dynasty originally consisted of four monumental paintings on zither, chess, calligraphy and painting. This exhibition shows two of them, "Playing zither and dancing with cranes" and "Viewing and writing calligraphy" in particular. In both paintings, the scholars have lit a censer for the occasion of playing zither or appreciating calligraphy, creating an elegant ambience with a shroud of scented smoke. The scenes reflect the Ming literati’s admiration for the culture of fragrance.

The oldest exhibit on display in the exhibition is a grey pottery censer with a bamboo joint design of the Liangzhu culture during the Neolithic period, which was unearthed from the Fuquan Shan tomb site in Qingpu District, Shanghai, in 1983. The biggest and heaviest exhibit is a censer with a lion-form knob designed in a round tripod form with a lid adorned by a squatting lion stepping on a rolling ball. It was used in royal temples during the Ming dynasty. Other important exhibits include a spectacular carved red lacquer incense box in the form of an imperial palace that exudes a regal aura; a five-piece altar set in fencai enamels on rouge-red ground, and Jingdezhen ware consisting of ritual vessels produced by imperial kilns during the Qianlong reign in the Qing dynasty. To allow visitors to view from both sides of a round fan inlaid with exquisitely carved agarwood in lingzhi and orchid design from the Qing dynasty, the curatorial team designed a special mount to display the exhibit.

Hanging censer carved with an openwork floral design and six loop handles from the Qing dynasty of the Hong Kong Museum of Art collection, exemplifying an exquisite jade-carving style

The highlights from the Hong Kong Museum of Art collections include a hanging censer carved with an openwork floral design and six loop handles from the Qing dynasty. This censer was carved out of jadeite with extraordinary skill, creating a single piece of jadeite carved into a chain of interlocking rings, each being able to move independently, exemplifying the exquisite jade-carving style. Another highlight exhibit is a pair of kidney-shaped purses with seed stitching and couched gold embroidery of antiquity motifs from the Qing dynasty, displaying patterns with auspicious significance. Purses like this could be used as a love token in ancient times.

Tsim Sha Tsui, where the Hong Kong Museum of Art is located, was said to be originally known as "Heung Po Tau" (a port for exporting incense), reflecting the close relationship of the place being used as transit point of fragrance materials in the past. The museum has invited three local artists to reinterpret Chinese fragrance culture for the exhibition through different media such as traditional "gongbi" painting and scent installations. Cheng Chi-kin's "A Story of Time Through Scents" has collected and displayed nearly 50 common types of fragrant herbs and materials, and has used them to create scents of dawn, noon and dusk. These fragrances are dispersed through wave-shaped diffusion devices. Cheuk Ka-wai's gigantic floral handscroll painting "Gathering of Ten Fragrances", features 10 local fragrant plants that are related to the daily life, culture and literary works pertaining to Hong Kong. The audience is invited to rediscover the relationship between these local fragrant plants and Hong Kong culture, while reawakening their own memories of fragrances. So Wing-po's "Scent of Raindrop", drawing inspiration from both the philosophies of Chinese medicine and methodologies of modern chemistry, reconstructs the various scents emitted by rainwater with a laboratory setup and various natural and artificial substances in order to unveil the intricate and complex flow of fragrance within the natural world.

The exhibition can be found at the Special Gallery on the second floor of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. At the same time, the museum will organise a series of special events and activities, including public lectures by experts and artists to enhance public understanding of the Chinese art of scent, and multiple fragrance workshops and meditation experience sessions to allow audiences to engage with Chinese fragrance culture through various senses. For details of the exhibition and activities see;

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

This exhibition is one of the programmes of "City in Focus: Shanghai" of the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival and Shanghai Culture Week. Another two spectacular events showcasing the cultural charm of Shanghai styles to be presented in August are the classic play "The House of Wulong" of the Qi School and the full-length serial opera "Seven Heroes and Five Gallants" by the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company as well as the "New Oriental Chinese Music Scene" concert by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. Shanghai Culture Week is co-presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism and the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival with an opening reception and ceremony at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 2nd August.

The Chinese Culture Festival, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Chinese Culture Promotion Office, aims to enhance the public's appreciation of Chinese culture and cultivate citizens' national identity and cultural confidence. The inaugural Chinese Culture Festival will be held from June to September. Through different performing arts programmes in various forms and related extension activities, including selected programmes of the Chinese Opera Festival, exemplary local arts projects recognised by the China National Arts Fund, performing arts programmes from arts and cultural organisations, film screenings, exhibitions, talks and more, the festival allows members of the public and visitors to experience the broad and profound Chinese culture with a view to promoting Chinese culture and patriotic education as well as enhancing national identity amongst the people of Hong Kong, making contributions to the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems". For details, please see the Chinese Culture Festival website;

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

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COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU – GEMS OF HONG KONG FILM TRAILERS (until 3rd November 2024)

The HONG KONG FILM ARCHIVE is staging the "Coming to a Theatre Near You - Gems of Hong Kong Film Trailers" exhibition at the Exhibition Hall of the Film Archive from 31st May to 3rd November 2024. The exhibition displays over 100 trailers of films from the 1940’s to the present day from the archive’s collection to introduce to visitors how film production crews produced trailers of duration from tens of seconds to a few minutes by adopting deft and smooth editing skills and meticulously designed promotional taglines with a view to enticing audiences into purchasing film tickets. Visitors can also learn about the development of Hong Kong films through these trailers. This exhibition is one of the programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024.

Trailers are film advertisements which aim to catch the attention of audiences through revealing a certain amount of the film story and highlights. Their production requires superb editing skills. This exhibition will showcase some of the most precious items of the archive’s collection. Based on the traces of the development of Hong Kong films, the exhibition will outline the methods, styles and characteristics of trailers in different periods as well as their changes across time. It will display trailers in six different categories, namely the earliest trailers of the archive’s collection, drama and realist films, musical films, comedy films, martial arts and action films, overseas versions of trailers.

The earliest trailers of the collection to be displayed at the exhibition include 10 trailers of films in the 1940’s. The taglines of post-war trailers in the 1940’s generally closely tap the pulse of society to cater to the tastes of most audiences. In order to attract people of all ages, the trailers, about four minutes long on average, often weave laughter and tears together alongside attention-grabbing slogans. An example is the trailer for the film "Intimate Lovers" (1947), which is about the story of a married woman entering the workplace. Film trailers became shorter and more brisk later as the economy of Hong Kong took off with the quickening pace of city life.

Trailers for drama and realist films often made use of the films' songs. Some of them even covered whole songs, such as "Love in a Fallen City" (1984) and "An Autumn's Tale" (1987). Others featured the lead actors themselves introducing the films, including the trailer of "The House of 72 Tenants" (1973) directed by Chor Yuen, where the cast of the film, Lydia Shum, Hu Chin, Elliot Yueh, Ching Li and Ivan Ho introduce the film as themselves, in order to attract audiences.

In the category of trailers for musical films, the trailers for musicals, Huangmeidiao films and Cantonese opera films in the 1950’s and 1960’s will be displayed. Trailers for Cantonese opera films in this period sometimes included the performance by an actor of an entire Cantonese opera excerpt. The exhibition will display various precious trailers for Cantonese opera films starring Yam Kim-fai and Pak Suet-sin including "The Fairy in the Picture" (1957) and "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" (1959). In the trailer for "Trouble on the Wedding Night" (1964), the focus is unconventionally placed on the film's music, featuring precious footage of the choir and band's live recording of the film's music with the well-known composer Zhou Lan-ping.

Still of the trailer for "Thunderstorm" (1957)

Voice-overs in trailers for comedy films often adopted a light-hearted tone. In the trailer for director Chun Kim's "How to Get a Wife" (1961), the film title and main cast are introduced in a comic style. It opens and ends with lead actor Patrick Tse speaking directly to the camera about the highs and lows of being both a husband and father. Coupled with the witty banter between the actors, the trailer is filled with playfulness and hilarity. Meanwhile, the promotional taglines of trailers for Stephen Chow's comedies, which were unparalleled in the 1990’s, are testimonials of his zany humour.

The exhibition also presents trailers for martial arts and action films. In the trailer for "Spy with My Face" (1966), actresses Connie Chan and Nam Hung captivate film audiences with action and comedy alongside catchy title cards. In the trailers for Bruce Lee's "The Big Boss" (1971) and "Fist of Fury" (1972), some of the most thrilling action scenes were showcased. Films produced with greater budgets often feature stunt scenes, explosion scenes, etc to entice audiences into purchasing film tickets.

Trailers are the most important promotional tools of films. When films are shown overseas, there are different edits of trailers to cater for overseas markets. For example, Bruce Lee's kung fu films "The Big Boss" and "Game of Death" (1978) have English trailers. The exhibition will also display different trailer editions of the film "Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain" (1983), which is a film combining Chinese myths, the wuxia genre and history for Hong Kong, the Japanese, the English and overseas markets. Trailers reflect how film companies target different audiences by adjusting their promotional focus.

To deepen visitors' understanding of film trailers, excerpts of interview videos with renowned actress Fung Bo-bo and experienced dubbing artist Ding Yue will be shown in the exhibition. In addition, interviews with filmmakers on different roles including directors Siu Wing, Bee Chan, Ho Cheuk-tin, Wilson Yip, Nick Cheuk, Jonathan Li, producers Terence Chang, Shu Kei, Amy Chin, editors Tony Chow, Chiang Kwok-kuen, Ng Wang-hung, and Wong Hoi will be rolled out at the exhibition in phases. Three screenings of selected trailers will also be held at the archive’s cinema with free admission. Each screening will last for about an hour. Moreover, various filmmakers will share their experiences in film editing and film promotion in seminars.

A tunnel of stars will also be set up at the exhibition, with screens on both sides of the tunnel showing star-studded clips of film trailers to provide an immersive experience to visitors. They can also take photos with a promotional cardboard of the cast of "The Quarrelsome Couple" (1959), including Patrick Tse, Patsy Kar Ling, Woo Fung and Nam Hung.

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

https://www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/trailer/pe-event-2024-trailer.html

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HARMONY OF RITES AND MUSIC: EXPLORING THE QILU CULTURE THROUGH SHANDONG RELICS (until 6th October 2024)

The exhibition "Harmony of Rites and Music: Exploring the Qilu Culture through Shandong Relics" runs from 28th May to 6th October 2024 at HONG KONG HERITAGE DISCOVERY CENTRE. It is advised by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the Shandong Provincial People's Government and the Development Bureau (DEVB), and jointly presented by the Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the DEVB and the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. The exhibition displays fine artefacts from Shandong and Hong Kong, enabling the public to learn about the unique Qilu culture and the pluralistic integration of Chinese civilisation.

A total of 60 sets (about 200 items) of fine artefacts from Shandong are being displayed for the first time in Hong Kong. Highlight exhibits include the "eggshell black pottery high stem cup with perforations" that represents the pinnacle of Chinese prehistoric pottery craftsmanship; the "white pottery tripod 'he' wine vessel" solely used by nobles in the Neolithic period; the "red pottery 'gui' with bag-shaped legs", a representative object of prehistoric Shandong culture; the ritual bronze yue-axe inscribed with "Ya chou" of Shang dynasty; the stacked bronze tableware from Qi State during the Warring States period; the chime bells inscribed with "You" and the stringed crystal and agate ornaments from the Spring and Autumn period; and a delicate bronze ding inscribed with "Lu Ji" from Western Zhou period. Other exhibits include jade and stoneware, pottery ware, bronze ware and musical instruments, illustrating the development of Qilu culture from the Neolithic period to Ming dynasty.

Stacked bronze tableware from Qi State during the Warring States period

Also on display are significant artefacts unearthed in Hong Kong, including yazhang-tablet, stone yue-axe, stringed stone ornament set, quartz rings, perforated pottery basin with incised wave pattern, white pottery basin with perforated ring-foot and bird-shaped pottery jar with handle. Through the comparison of artefacts of both places, the pluralistic integration of Chinese civilisation is demonstrated.

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

For further details see;

https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/news/index_id_150.html?year=2024

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BREAKING NEW GROUND: DONATED WORKS OF CHAN WING-SUM (from 1st May 2024 until further notice)

The exhibition "Breaking New Ground: Donated Works of Chan Wing-sum" is being held from 1st May 2024 until further notice at the HONG KONG HERITAGE MUSEUM. The exhibition showcases more than 10 flower-and-bird and landscape paintings created and donated by Chan to the museum, and also works by his mentor, Professor Chao Shao-an, renowned master of the Lingnan School of Painting. It allows visitors to see how Chan has incorporated his mentor's painting technique into his own works and to appreciate his mastery of ink adaptation.

Chan is an accomplished painter of the Lingnan School of Painting with a strong personal style. He learned painting from Professor Chao starting in 1976, while apprenticing for traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, and seal carving from other renowned teachers. He has participated in various joint and solo exhibitions in Hong Kong, the Mainland, Canada, etc. In 2019, Chan's painting "Lotus and bird" was featured in the Japan-China Suiboku Joint Exhibition, where it was awarded the Foreign Minister of Japan's Commendation.

Based on the composition, imagery and ink adaptation in traditional Chinese painting, Chan adds his carefree brushwork and contemporary interpretation to create his ink paintings in an abstract manner. His works embrace the flexible concept of the Lingnan School of Painting to blend traditional and modern elements with innovative approaches. Highlight exhibits include "Lotus and bird", "Rain came upon lotus pond", "Birds singing in banana tree" and "Red kapok and blue bird".

The Chao Shao-an Gallery was set up with a donation of works from Professor Chao during the establishment of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. It aims to showcase the heritage and innovation of the Lingnan School of Painting, and to promote Professor Chao's artistic vision. As a student of Professor Chao, Chan not only inherited his painting skills, but also continues his selfless acts. In 2021, Chan generously donated 15 of his representative artworks, enriching the museum's collection of the art of the Lingnan School of Painting.

To tie in with the exhibition, Chan has been invited to conduct painting demonstrations for students and the public, and co-host a lecture on the Lingnan School of Painting with the curator during the summer holidays so that audiences can gain a more in-depth understanding of his art exploration and the art of the Lingnan School of Painting.

The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. For further details of the exhibition see;

https://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en/web/hm/exhibitions/data/chan-wing-sum.html

The exhibition is one of the activities of the Chinese Culture Promotion Series which promotes Chinese history and culture through 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

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STATION RAIL VOYAGE (until end 2024 - Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays only)

On its 45th anniversary MTR Corporation has organised an exhibition “Station Rail Voyage”, a brand new railway experiential gallery at HUNG HOM STATION, located in a temporarily converted portion of the Intercity Through Train area of the station. The exhibition showcases retired trains including the legendary “Yellow Head” which marked the start of electrified railway service on the East Rail Line, train components and a collection of historical artefacts. The exhibition takes visitors along a memory lane of Hong Kong’s railway service and offers a glimpse at the behind-the-scene operations of railways. The “Station Rail Voyage” exhibition runs from 27 April 2024 till the end of the year for members of the public who have pre-registered online.

MTR Corporation has transformed the area of Hung Hom Station to provide an immersive journey of railway experience. “Station Rail Voyage” alludes to the encounters that occur at railway stations and the exhibition is divided into three main distinct zones. Each zone presents a unique theme with captivating content and interactive experience. The themes and contents of these three zones are:

“DECODING RAIL” showcases and introduces an array of signal lights and train components. It offers insights into the lesser-known aspects of railway knowledge that contribute to the MTR’s safe and reliable train services. It also displays the RADO clock which was installed at stations in the early days of the Mass Transit Railway service.

“YEARS ON THE RAIL” focuses on noteworthy items and stories gathered by railway staff across different eras, documenting the contributions made by these “Railway-ers” to the evolution of railways over the years. There is also a close encounter opportunity with the driving cabin of a modernisation train “M-Train” in the exhibition area.

“NEXT STATION…MEMORIES” is the exhibition’s highlight, bringing together two retired trains, the iconic first-generation electric train “Yellow Head” and the Mid-life Refurbishment train “MLR” of the East Rail Line, as well as the Diesel Electric Locomotive No. 56 “I.B. Trevor”. Visitors can capture memorable moments with these historical trains and locomotive, experience the nostalgia of past railway journeys and witness the evolution in train development.

Diesel Electric Locomotive No. 56 “I.B. Trevor”, one of the “Station Rail Voyage” exhibits

The exhibition also offers an array of interactive elements. Visitors can get up close to different types of trains and listen to station announcements highlighting the Corporation’s operations around the world. To enhance the experience further, visitors can even mimic station staff from different eras and capture memorable photos at the photo booth.

Each visitor will also receive a randomly distributed retro-style ticket card as a souvenir and visitors can also purchase various MTR souvenirs and the limited edition “MTR Ticket Classic Album” specifically introduced for the exhibition.

In addition to the “Station Rail Voyage” exhibition, the restaurants located on the U3 level of Hung Hom Station have embraced railway elements to create a unique dining experience. Inspired by the iconic red and blue colours of the “MLR” and train components, the restaurants are adorned with train frames and train compartment seats.

Starting from 27 April 2024, the “Station Rail Voyage” exhibition will be open to the public for free visits on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays by reservation. Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance through the website;

https://stationrailvoyage.mtr.com.hk/event/3027

MTR Corporation is reserving the weekday slots for local community groups by invitation in the initial two months of opening. Each session of visit will have a duration of 75 minutes. To ensure a smooth and safe visiting experience, the capacity for each session is set at approximately 100 visitors.

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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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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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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

The exhibition received its 300,000th visitor on 9th August 2024.

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 received its 300,000th visitor on 5th July 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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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) TEMPORARILY CLOSED 17th JUNE 2024 TO 30th JUNE 2024. REOPENS 1st JULY 2024

"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