Gallery 1: Entering the Forbidden City: Collection, Architecture, and Heritage. (PHOTO/HONG KONG PALACE MUSEUM)
Exquisite objects that 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) collected and adored over the centuries in a grand complex of palaces and halls commissioned by Emperor Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, represent a precious cache of Chinese art and culture. Selected treasures from this vast collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing have been loaned to Hong Kong Palace Museum, where residents will be incited to discover not just their aesthetic and historical value, but also imperial life and that of farmers and merchants hundreds of years ago.
In the display at the museum in West Kowloon Cultural District, visitors will also uncover insights into French-Chinese exchanges from the days of King Louis XIV (the Sun King, known for his interest in Chinese culture) and Emperor Qianlong, who, according to scholars, commissioned Italian, French Jesuit and European court painters to create many paintings, and was passionate about poetry, objets d’art, and calligraphy.
Just as the Palace Museum in Beijing is dedicated to conserving its collections for the world and undertaking research, HKPM has a multifaceted role, including as a bridge builder. It will promote Chinese traditional culture and history, educate using innovative technologies, host exhibitions, lectures, thematic workshops, and provide courses on Chinese art, history, and culture
Just as the Palace Museum in Beijing is dedicated to conserving its collections for the world and undertaking research, HKPM has a multifaceted role, including as a bridge builder. It will promote Chinese traditional culture and history, educate using innovative technologies, host exhibitions, lectures, thematic workshops, and provide courses on Chinese art, history, and culture.
Built with a HK$3.5 billion ($446 million) donation from Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the museum opened this month to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. More than 900 pieces of priceless treasures are going on show in Hong Kong for the first time, while some loans will be rotated.
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Daisy Yiyou Wang, HKPM deputy director of curatorial and programming, said the institution is contributing in a number of ways.
“First, Hong Kong is in a strategic position to serve as a bridge between China and the world in terms of artistic and cultural exchanges. In China’s strategic plan, Hong Kong will play such a role and I think we also play an important role in supporting Hong Kong’s strategic positioning. Second, this is a wonderful opportunity for citizens. I have met so many teachers, parents, students, and principals and they said this museum is overdue, because we teach history and art, but what a great cultural resource this will be.”
Wang is responsible for HKPM’s exhibition, research, collection, publication, learning and public engagement programs.
Wang said some rare treasures on display may never travel again. Many are traveling outside the Forbidden City for the first time.
“We have some of the rarest early paintings, some are over 1,000 years old. And some will need to be rested for a few years before they are shown again. There are a number of objects that have never been displayed publicly anywhere in the world. This is their debut.”
Gallery 4: Encountering the Majestic: Portraits of Qing Emperors and Empresses. (PHOTO/HONG KONG PALACE MUSEUM)
In an acknowledgement of the history of Franco-Sino relations, HKPM is also exhibiting some treasures from Paris’ Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre).
“In total, we got 13 objects, one of which is nearly seven meters in width, a giant tapestry depicting a battle scene with horses. That exhibition (Gallery 9) is about horses in Chinese and world culture. We are very grateful to the director of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, for supporting this unprecedented exhibition,” Wang said.
We have some of the rarest early paintings, some are over 1,000 years old. And some will need to be rested for a few years before they are shown again. There are a number of objects that have never been displayed publicly anywhere in the world. This is their debut.
Daisy Yiyou Wang, HKPM deputy director of curatorial and programming
HKPM will play an important role in fostering greater appreciation of Chinese history, art, and culture.
“Through the exhibition people will get a new understanding of the richness and diversity of Chinese culture, about cosmopolitanism, and the palace culture. Because we show not only Beijing, but also southern, northern, western, and eastern parts, and we show art from Europe, America, Japan, and many parts of the world. I’m talking about 18th, 19th century art,” Wang explains.
“There is a strong conceptual connection between the Forbidden City and Hong Kong as a city. These cities are cosmopolitan. They are open-minded and diverse and there is harmony among all the different cultures and elements.”
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Education is a priority for HKPM, which will be forging strategic partnerships with the sector to bring learning programs and cultural resources to schools and residents.
Gallery 8: The Making of Masterpieces: Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Palace Museum. (PHOTO/HONG KONG PALACE MUSEUM)
At the Palace Museum in Beijing itself, a research institute was set up in 2013 for academic studies along with the Institute of Gugong Studies. And in 2015, the Institute for the Further Study of International Cultural Exchange was formed.
As a cultural and educational organization, part of HKPM’s mission is to provide learning resources, HKPM deputy director of curatorial and programming Daisy Wang said. A resource handbook, mainly for history teachers, is being created jointly with the Education Bureau
As a cultural and educational organization, part of HKPM’s mission is to provide learning resources, Wang said. A resource handbook, mainly for history teachers, is being created jointly with the Education Bureau.
She said the museum emphasizes the importance of scholarship.
“For the opening exhibitions we have four publications catering to different audiences such as local, mainland Chinese, and the international audience,” Wang said. “There are two bilingual books and one in English and one in Chinese. These are the exhibition catalogues. We have essays by scholars including that of the Louvre. There are beautiful plates and illustrations. We have a scholarly catalogue by the Bei Shan Tang Foundation. This is a landmark publication and will be the first English exhibition catalogue to focus on early Chinese paintings and calligraphy from the Palace Museum collection. They have published many catalogues, but all in Chinese.’’
READ MORE: Hong Kong Palace Museum opens with trove of national treasures
HKPM has the largest dedicated learning space in a museum, spread over 1,600 square meters, called The Palace Academy.
Gallery 9: The Grand Gallop: Art and Culture of the Horse. (PHOTO/HONG KONG PALACE MUSEUM)
“There is an auditorium for 400 people (the Hong Kong Jockey Club Auditorium) and we will use it for lectures, film screenings, and small scale performances, such as concerts and dance. We are also lucky to receive sponsorship from Bank of China (Hong Kong) for the museum’s performing arts program. We wanted this to be interdisciplinary. In addition, we have workshops. Quality, uniqueness, and innovation are important to us,” Wang said.
HKPM has the largest dedicated learning space in a museum, spread over 1,600 square meters, called The Palace Academy
“We want to offer unique content. Our unique content is the treasures. We want to host workshops such as painting and ceramics. We are hiring masters to help people learn calligraphy and painting. We will be teaching people how to create imperial-style ceramics. This is the uniqueness we will promote.”
As for innovation, HKPM is introducing technologies to its workshops, such as 3D printing to create seals, allowing visitors to experience traditional art in an innovative way. There will also be conservation workshops, a magnet for local youth.