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211

Beyond Borders
of Mahjong

The Road to
Bendigo
the Baroque
City of Goldfrom
Masterpieces andtheDragons
Capodimonte Museum

Maritime Miracle
Our city since 1945

Chi Lin
Nunnery

Hong Kong
Palace Museum
July - August 2022 HK$40 www.culture-hongkong.com
 Contents July - August 2022
Editorial
4 The Hong Kong Palace Museum Editor in Chief Cammy Yiu

4
Another magnificent destination located Sub Editor Martin Wray
Editor Deborah DeGolyer
in the West Kowloon Cultural District Administration Eric Li
Design Dave Chung

12
Harmonious balance at Chi Lin
Creative

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The Road to the Baroque
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Ewer with dragons and clouds
Qianlong period (1736-1795), Gold, Palace Museum,
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Photo by Cammy Yiu
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 From the
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12 44
Harmonious balance at Chi Lin Nunnery Hong Kong’s Maritime Miracle

The Hong Kong Palace Museum has officially opened to the public. Museum in Naples might be like. There is no substitute for a trip to
This wonderful and much-needed dose of good news was timed to Italy, but a visit to see these masterpieces while they are in Hong Kong,
coincide with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to is still a soul-rewarding experience.
China and the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Decades ago,
there were a scant few public or private museums and galleries on Martin Wray features Hong Kong’s Maritime Miracle, The Story of Our
offer to locals or visitors. Now, with the West Kowloon vision almost City Since 1945. This exhibition at the Maritime Museum is a reminder
fully realised, the arts and cultural hub with its varied mix of theatres, of the city’s rapid rebirth from the consequences of World War II and
performance spaces, and museums located alongside a two-kilometre the role played by the maritime industry. The exhibition begins with
waterfront promenade on Victoria Harbour, regularly host world-class a solemn reminder; an American-made 500-pound bomb found at a
exhibitions and performances. We feature the newest addition to the construction site in Happy Valley in 2020. This was a remnant of the
city’s cultural offerings which will certainly attract more tourism while heavy bombing from Allied Powers which virtually destroyed the city’s
fostering local creative talent. industrial infrastructure but ended the Japanese Occupation of Hong
Kong in August 1945. The show's displays of artefacts and descriptive
Chi Lin Nunnery, founded in 1934, was designed as a retreat for text continue through the decades since to and raise awareness of
Buddhist nuns - a purpose it continues to uphold to this day writes the vital importance of shipping in our daily lives and the connectivity
Victoria Mae Martyn. Comprised of sixteen halls of worship, a library, between the maritime community and the city.
school, pagoda, three courtyards, a bell tower, and a drum tower Chi
Lin Nunnery is now opened to the public. The monastic complex is Mahjong is considered an intangible cultural heritage, the tradition
auspiciously positioned facing the sea to welcome abundance. Lion behind the artful game is beautifully illustrated in the photo exhibition
Rock, so named for its famous boulder that looks like a crouching lion, Beyond Borders of Mahjong. Like the games of rummy and dominoes,
is situated beside it. Modelled after Tang Dynasty architecture, Chi Lin mahjong is a battle of wits, played with skill and some cunning. In this
Nunnery is the only building of this style that remains in Hong Kong. show, the tradition and the art of handmade tiles are featured. The
Amazingly, not a single nail was used in its construction spanning popular and noisy game was invented in China and widely played
more than 33,000 square metres. at the turn of the nineteenth century. Originally it was a card-based
game before the more wind-resilient tile version became popular.
The world comes to us. I am reminded of this again with the fabulous Today, mahjong continues to be a popular focal point during family
exhibition The Road to the Baroque Masterpieces from the Capodimonte get-togethers, celebrations and holidays.
Museum at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The show features forty
late Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces highlighting the height Enjoy.
of Neapolitan art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Along
with the well-planned installation and informative descriptions, the
ambience is enhanced by Baroque music. In this way, the curators are
providing a substantial sample of what a visit to the Capodimonte

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July - August 2022

 INSIGHTFUL

Contact Cammy Yiu cammy@asiabrand.biz Office +852 6693-5365

 The Hong Kong
Palace Museum
Another magnificent destination located
in the West Kowloon Cultural District
Text and Photos by: Cammy Yiu

It was a wonderful and much needed dose can bet that they did so for the shopping, the
of good news. food, and the exotic appeal of the city’s blend
of east meets west.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum officially
opened to the public. Timed to coincide with Now, with the West Kowloon vision almost
the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hong Kong’s fully realised, the arts and cultural hub with its
return to China, the new museum was as varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and
headline grabbing as the visit to the city of
Chinese President Xi Jinping.

As Hong Kong moves forward to a very changed

world, the city is trying to return to the jewel
it once was as the gateway to China and a top
Asian tourism destination.

With the opening of The Hong Kong Pal-

ace Museum, Hong Kong is declaring quite
boldly that it is a world class art and cultural
destination.

Decades ago, there were a scant few public

or private museums and galleries on offer
to locals or visitors. When visitors came, you

July - August 2022

 5

CULTURE
The Hong Kong Palace Museum

museums located alongside a two-kilometre

waterfront promenade on Victoria Harbour is
now hosting world-class exhibitions, perfor-
mances and cultural events. This investment will
certainly attract more tourism while fostering
local creative talent.

When I landed back in Hong Kong in the mid-

90s, there were very few jobs for anyone in
arts or arts administration. I know, because I
tried, and no one was offering any.

Now, as I previewed The Hong Kong Palace

Museum days before its public opening, I
delighted in seeing the many young staff that
are employed by the facilities. Knowing that the
city has numerous viable career paths for those
wanting to work in the arts warms my heart.
Thesus and the Centaur, Antoine Louis Barye, Bronze, 1877, Louvre Museum, Gallery 9
The city has come far in its development, and
it is no longer the cultural desert it once was. by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
with a donation of HK$3.5 billion.

The Palace Museum was established in 1925,

just after Emperor Puyi, China’s last emperor,
was ousted from the Forbidden City, which
had been the exclusive residence and palace
of the Emperor of China from the Ming to the
Qing dynasties (1420-1924). The vast collection
of imperial treasures and household items left
behind by the imperial family was audited and
catalogued and numbered more than 1,860,000
items. These included all manner of antiquities

Woman on horseback, Tang dynasty, Earthenware with

“three-colour” (sancai) glaze, Palace Museum, Gallery 9

Five years ago, seemingly out of the blue, the

government announced the project, a collab-
oration between the West Kowloon Cultural
District Authority and the Palace Museum that
would enable the continuous loan of priceless
treasures from the National Museum housed
in the Forbidden City in the centre of Beijing. The Making of Masterpieces: Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the
It was an audacious vision generously funded Palace Museum, Gallery 8

July - August 2022

 7

Wine jar (zun), Porcelain with yellow glaze, Gift of Mr Vase with spiral pattern, Imperial Workshops, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong mark and period (1736-
Anthony K.W. Cheung, Collection of Art Museum, The 1795), Blown glass, Palace Museum, Gallery 5
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Gallery 6

(porcelains, furniture, textiles, ornaments), all For its opening debut, The Hong Kong Palace
sorts of artworks (paintings, calligraphy, gold Museum is featuring over 900 exquisite trea-
statues and silver ornaments), and countless sures, among the largest and finest selection
books and literary works. of exhibits the Palace Museum has ever lent
out. There are over 100 items on loan from
This enormous collection offers a broad per- other local museums, such as the Hong Kong
spective of 5,000 years of Chinese history and Museum of Art, as well as several precious
specifically the life of those who had lived in art objects from the Louvre Museum in Paris.
the Forbidden City for hundreds of years.
There are nine galleries, each displaying items
Much of the collection is on display, in galler- following curatorial and thematic narratives.
ies and halls throughout the Forbidden City,
which in its entirety is a sprawling museum To beat some of the crowd, I made my way
open to the public. However, most will be to the top of the museum and visited gallery
stored away from view, as it is not possible nine first. After that, I then went down one
to put all of it on show. level to galleries eight, seven and six, and
then worked my way through all the other
Like many other world class museums, the galleries on levels 3 and 2, until I reached
Palace Museum participates in exchanges gallery one on level 1.
and loans with others. This gives ample
opportunities to give some of the inventory The floor plans are simple, and there are esca-
display time and for people around the world lators connecting each level, making all the
to see some of the imperial treasures outside galleries readily accessible and easy to find.
of Beijing.
There is a gorgeous spacious South Atrium
The Hong Kong Palace Museum’s vision is to on level 3 that invites rest on one of its ter-
be fully dedicated to Chinese art and culture. races—a beautiful place to soak in and savour
Not only will they display items from the the opulent space and scenic view, and it is
A Grandiose Fanfare, Sound Instal- Palace Museum in Beijing, but also relevant a treat to walk down the grand stairway to
lation by BayBird, Gallery 7 thematic artefacts from other museums. level 2.

CULTURE
The Hong Kong Palace Museum

Clay to Treasure: Ceramics from the Palace Museum Collection, The Talzong Wen Emperor (Hong Taiji) & The Xiaozhuang Wen Empress in Court
Gallery 3 Attire, Qing dynasty 1751 or earlier, Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk, Palace
Museum, Gallery 4

In gallery nine there is a special exhibition

titled Grand Gallop: Art and Culture of the
Horse. Hundreds of paintings, sculptures and
decorative art objects provide a historical and
cultural narrative on the importance of the
horse in social, military and political contexts.
One of the most celebrated subjects in Chinese
arts, horses have inspired stories, art and leg-
ends. From the elegant Tang dynasty Sancai
glazed Woman on horseback earthenware to
bronze Theseus and the Centaur, on loan from
the Louvre Museum, the horse is the hero in
this gallery.

The Making of Masterpieces: Chinese Painting

and Calligraphy from the Palace Museum is
featured in gallery eight. Outstanding examples
of Chinese painting and calligraphy from the
Jin, Tan, Song and Yuan dynasties show the
artistic achievements of this art form. Many of
these phenomenal works are being displayed
outside of the Palace Museum for the first time.

The new museum is also connecting Chinese

culture with the contemporary art scene with a
display of new works by six Hong Kong-based
multimedia and interdisciplinary artists in gal-
lery seven. In the exhibition titled No Boundar- Theatrical robe with flowers and butterflies, Qianlong period 1736-1795, Silk tapestry, embroi-
dery and painting, silk threads, pigments, silk satin, Palace Museum, Gallery 2
ies: Reinterpreting Palace Museum Culture, each

July - August 2022

 9

Entering the Forbidden City: Architecture, Collection and The Qianlong Emperor Enjoying the Lunar New Vanity mirror with rhinoceros-shaped legs,
Heritage, Gallery 1 Year, Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining, Europe, 18th century, Gilded copper alloy,
1688-1766) Qianlong period, 1736-1738, agate, painted enamels, Palace Museum,
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk, Palace Gallery 1
Museum, Gallery 2

work is themed based on artefacts or cultures and their works have inspired contemporary
and provides a multi-sensory experience. In art and design. The exhibition The Quest for
the sound installation, A Grandiose Fanfare, by Originality: Contemporary Design and Tradi-
BayBird, an entire room is booming with the tional Craft in Dialogue in gallery five shows
music of the Qing court. It is a kinetic work how modern work draws inspiration from past
that is engaging and mesmerizing. innovations, methods and traditions.

The new museum’s ability to collect, house The exhibit in gallery four, Encountering the
and display valuable antiquities will serve as Majestic: Portraits of Qing Emperors and
a catalyst for collectors to consider donating. Empresses, deciphers the works of commem-
This subtle message is well presented in gallery orative portraits. The imperial family of the
six, where the display Private to Public: The Qing dynasty attached great importance to
History of Chinese Art Collecting in Hong Kong the recording of their appearance and status
shows the hundreds of pieces of antiques that with the commission of portraiture. It was
have been donated to public galleries and their way to record the likeness of a person
museums in the city. As Hong Kong became in a dignified, magnificent and extravagant
prosperous, it also became a hub for collect- style for perpetuity and ancestral worship. The
ing as Chinese art and antiquities flowed in portraits of deceased emperors and empresses
from mainland China. Private collectors eager were hung every year in the Hall of Imperial
to learn and acquire became enthusiastic Longevity in the Forbidden City for annual
scholars and promoters of Chinese heritage, ancestral rites. The exhibit provides a guide
art and culture. Their robust activities led to to decoding the many symbols, figures and
large donations of fine collections of gold, imagery that were used to represent imperial
porcelains and furniture to the city’s public authority and position.
galleries, benefitting the people of Hong Kong.
A small portion of the Palace Museum’s rich
Chinese artisans have been making beautiful collections of Chinese ceramics is presented
and ingenious objects throughout history, in gallery three. The show Clay to Treasure:

CULTURE
The Hong Kong Palace Museum

Pair of incense burners in the form of luduan, Ming dynasty, Wanli period (1573-1620) Cloisonné, Palace Museum, Gallery 1

Ceramics from the Palace Museum Collection

features highlights that range from everyday
household goods to luxuries used by the
ruling elite. These treasures offer a stunning
overview of one of China’s most enduring
artistic traditions with a focus on technical
and aesthetic achievements in the Ming and
Qing dynasties.

In galleries one and two, life inside the For-

bidden City is on full display. From Dawn to
Dusk: Life in the Forbidden City, in gallery two,
presents the court life of ten emperors and
over twenty empresses of the Qing dynasty.
Hundreds of sumptuous treasures show the
accoutrements for daily life and significant
events, giving illustration to the moments
of joy and sorrow inside the Forbidden City.

Entering the Forbidden City: Architecture,

Collection and Heritage is featured in gallery Ewer, Mughai empire, 17th or 18th century, jade (nephrite), gold, lapis lazuli,
one and sheds light on the architecture and rubies, Palace Museum, Gallery 1

July - August 2022

 11

cultures and developed contacts with other

parts of the world.

It was a lot to see in one building and cer-

tainly, it would have been better to review
and enjoy all the exhibitions over a few days
instead of just one. However, since tickets and
entry will be precious and hard to come by
for the next while, I wanted to run through
it all to see what was on offer, and so much
was on show.

The museum’s architecture and interior space

on its own was a delight to see, and my favou-
rite spot was found on the fourth floor where
there is a viewing deck offering a spectacular
South Atrium Stairway between levels 2 & 3
panoramic view of western Hong Kong Island,
Lantau Island and Kowloon. At the end of my
collections of the Palace Museum, as well as visit, I raced back to this viewing deck several
the activities of the multi-cultural Qing court. times as the sun set and was rewarded with
Built in the centre of Beijing, the palace has amazing colours and hues as the evening came.
been reconstructed many times. During the
Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the current Forbid- Another reason, among many is that this is the
den City emerged as China embraced diverse new must-visit destination in Hong Kong.

Sunset view from the 4th floor viewing deck

CULTURE
 Harmonious balance
at Chi Lin Nunnery
Tang dynasty-inspired in design, the large
Buddhist complex is an architectural
and religious marvel
Text & Photos Victoria Mae Martyn

July - August 2022

 13

CULTURE
Harmonious balance at Chi Lin Nunnery

A top player among the major modern reli- cast aside his worldly connections in search
gions, Buddhism is prevalent in the global of enlightenment. Born Siddhārtha Gautama,
east. Various forms of the religion are practised after years of asceticism and meditation, Gau-
and moulded to fit into the needs of diverse tama attained nirvana under a sacred fig tree.
cultures including Japan, Cambodia and even Henceforth, he was Buddha.
parts of Russia. Over 2,500 years ago, when an
Indian prince finally learned of the suffering Fast-forward to the present day, where Bud-
that existed outside of his palace walls, he dhism has blossomed into a global belief system
with millions of followers worldwide. In China
alone, Han Buddhism (the form practised in the
country, so named for its development during
the Han Dynasty) has between 185 and 250
million followers. The harbour city of Hong
Kong even celebrates Buddha’s birthday as a
public holiday, and the city is home to several
Buddhist temples. A pure lily amidst a pond
of contemporary housing and highways, Chi
Lin Nunnery is a testament to classical Chinese
architecture, an oasis for the spiritual-minded
and a sanctuary for the elderly.

Founded in 1934, the monastic complex was

designed as a retreat for Buddhist nuns—a
purpose it continues to uphold. Built in the
district of Diamond Hill in Kowloon, the neigh-
bourhood’s name is somewhat of a misnomer.
Despite the luxurious imagery that comes to
mind, the area is not one of refined beauty

July - August 2022

 15

but a unique combination of natural charm,

harmonious balance, and Babylonian residential
complexes. Even the area’s later incongruent
additions of housing blocks do not diminish
the nunnery’s charm. Auspiciously positioned,
the compound faces the sea to welcome
abundance. Lion Rock, so named for its famous
boulder that looks like a crouching lion, is sit-
uated above the nunnery. Rolling mountains
behind the institution provide strength and
positive energy.

Feng Shui principles held significant impor-

tance throughout its development. Talented
designers, architects and traditional craftsmen
from Japan, mainland China and Hong Kong
came together to breathe new life into the nun-
nery. Modelled after Tang dynasty architecture,
Chi Lin Nunnery is the only building of this style

that remains in Hong Kong. Renovation works

for the compound began in 1989. Spanning
more than 33,000 square metres, amazingly,
not a single nail was used in its construction.
Builders wholly relied on traditional Chinese
techniques. Over 200,000 pieces of cypress
wood made up the building’s many wooden
dowels and bracket work, intricately held
together through interlocking systems cut into
the wood. Unsurprisingly, the nunnery is the
world’s largest handmade wooden building
to date. With an expected usage period of five
centuries, Chi Lin is proof that tried and true
methods can stand the test of time and look
great doing it.

In all, the nunnery comprises sixteen halls of

worship, a library, a school, a pagoda, three
courtyards, a bell tower and a drum tower.
Renovations were completed in 1998, and
in the early-mid 2000s, Chi Lin Nunnery was
opened to the public.

CULTURE
Harmonious balance at Chi Lin Nunnery

Located a five-minute walk from the Diamond Heading inside, visitors enter the main court-
Hill train station, public signage guides visitors yard. Named the Maitreya Hall, its title is derived
to Chi Lin. Its smooth stone steps appear to from the fifth and final iteration of Buddha
glow in the sunlight. The entryway is a lengthy, that is promised to bring Dharma back to the
open space. Pristine bonsai trees line the forefront of society. A covered walkway with
route to the main gate, the “Mountain Gate”, clay-tiled roofing wraps around the open
the largest of three gates set at the entrance. courtyard, providing respite from the heat.
Two smaller gates are situated on either side.
The three entry points represent compassion, Lily motifs are found throughout the com-
wisdom and the skills of the people. Cascading pound, acting as accents for the clay tiles
and stunningly tall bougainvilleas stand near (with a total weight of 176 tonnes), etched
the staircase on either side. Inside the nunnery on the lamps hanging overhead and carved
are three distinct sections: the main courtyard, into the low stone walls that wrap around
the inner courtyard and the ancestral prayer the ponds. Their waters are planted with lily
hall. Within these separate areas, their respec- pads, flower buds not yet matured. Smooth,
tive main worship halls are all oriented on a decorative Yantan stones and petrified wood
north-south axis, and minor halls are oriented are on display. Often, they are paired with sage
to the east and west. Buddhist quotes, insightful artistic expressions
and statements from scholars and leaders of
dynasties past.

July - August 2022

 17

Four lotus ponds are situated in the courtyard.

In each, carved stones in the shape of dragon
heads, representing earthly and celestial power,
spout water. Bonsai trees punctuate the corner
of each pond. Between the covered walkway
and the open area, a neat line of flora loops
around the inner perimeter. They bear romantic
names including orange jessamine, firethorn,
Buddhist pine, ash and Chinese juniper. The
shape of many has been manipulated over
the years through careful usage of wiring to
create stunning configurations.

The Hall of Celestial Kings is situated at the end

of the first courtyard. Maitreya Bodhisattva,
the future Buddha, takes place of pride in the
centre. The Celestial kings (also known as the
Heavenly kings) that the hall derives its name
from, stand as Buddha's guardians, protecting
him from evil. Each king is positioned on a
corner of the altar, representing the cardinal
points. This demonstrates how there are many
different ways to teach people. Behind the
colossal statue of the future Buddha (coloured
golden, as all the figures are in the nunnery) is
Skanda, the guardian god of the monastery,
wielding a diamond staff. This main hall over-
looks the smaller second courtyard located
behind it. Photography of the main hall and

CULTURE
Harmonious balance at Chi Lin Nunnery

second courtyard is forbidden, allowing the

pious to worship in peace without being
interrupted by a selfie. Not all statues are made
of the same material; wood, gold, stone and
clay were used to create the many versions of
Buddha and his loyal followers.

Entering the second courtyard immediately

takes visitors into a space so quiet you could
hear a pin drop. Everyone walks slowly, respect-
fully minding other passers-by as they take
in the atmosphere and prostrate themselves
in front of the many shrines. Here you find
five temple halls housing the likeness of the
Shakyamuni Buddha, the goddess of mercy
Guanyin and other Bodhisattvas. A neatly Despite the luxurious imagery that comes
maintained lawn sits in the middle of the space.
Here, the main hall of worship is home to five
to mind, the area is not one of refined
gilded Buddhas. The coolness within the inner beauty but a unique combination of
courtyard is owed to the towering ancestral
prayer hall. Unfortunately, this is inaccessible to natural charm, harmonious balance,and
visitors, along with the dharma hall, patriarch
hall and 10,000 Buddhas pagoda.
Babylonian residential complexes
July - August 2022
 19

Inspired by a Sukhavati drawing found in the nature, the nuns' active work in the community
Mogao caves in China's Jiuqian province, the represents harmony with others. Expanding
design of Chi Lin Nunnery is humbly distinct. their religious duties to serve the community,
Described as a "cong lin" (Cantonese for "forest"), besides housing sixty nuns, the compound is
it is so named for its large congregation of nuns, also a residence for the elderly. That aside, the
resembling clustered trees when they gather foremost aim of Chi Lin Nunnery is to actively
together. While the architecture is a physical promote Chinese culture and an understanding
representation of people in harmony with of Buddhism's ethos to all visitors.

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 The Road to the Baroque
Masterpieces from the Capodimonte Museum
An exquisite sample from one of the largest art collections in Italy

Text and Photos Cammy Yiu and as credited

“Hong Kong is a natural partner for the times. It is one of the largest collections of art Titian (Tiziano Vecellio)
(Pieve di Cadore, 1488/1490 – Venice,
exhibition The Road to the Baroque Master- in Italy and the world.
1576)
pieces from the Capodimonte Museum,” said Portrait of Pope Paul III with the Camauro
Dr Sylvain Bellenger, Director of the Capodi- The Capodimonte Museum, an eighteenth-cen- 1545 – 1546
Oil on canvas
monte Museum. tury royal palace, was purposefully created to Farnese Collection
house a grand art collection. It is an example © Images by concession of the Ministry
of Culture - Museo e Real Bosco di
Bellenger elaborated that the similarities of a rare group of royal palaces that play host
Capodimonte
between Naples, the home of the Capodi- to extensive major western art collections.
monte Museum, and Hong Kong are many. Others are the Hermitage in St. Petersburg
Both Naples and Hong Kong are port cities and the Louvre in Paris.
transformed by foreigners and visitors from
abroad. Remarkably similar are the two cities’
identities and transformations throughout their
history, which were shaped by collaboration
with other cultural and artistic influences.

In his remarks on the opening of the new

display of Baroque Masterpieces at the Hong
Kong Museum of Art, Bellenger explained the
creation of the vast treasures at the Capod-
imonte Museum, which houses over 47,000
items, including collections of paintings,
antiques, furniture, and porcelain dating from
the thirteenth century to art from modern

July - August 2022

 21

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The Road to the Baroque

The Capodimonte palace was a royal residence

used for hunting and organised as a farm and
historical garden. King Charles of Bourbon
(1716-1788) began construction of the palace
in 1738 to display the immense Farnese col-
lection of Renaissance and Baroque artworks
given to him by his mother, Elisabetta Farnese
(1692 -1766), who was the Queen of Spain.

The Farnese art collection was associated with

the Farnese family of Parma, and especially
Alessandro Farnese (1463-1549), who would
become Pope Paul III and would amass a sig-
nificant collection of art during his lifetime. He
came from a wealthy family that had produced
several popes. As a wealthy aristocrat, he
expressed his social power and grand status
with commissions and acquisitions of art that
would become the Farnese collection.

Subsequent Farnese heirs continued adding

to the Farnese collection until 1731, with
acquisitions of contemporary art produced in
Italy from all centres of art, including Rome,
Parma, Bologna, Florence and Venice. Elisabet-
ta inherited the family’s centuries of artistic
endeavour when her uncle Antonio Farnese
died without a male heir.

Parmigianino (Francesco Maria Mazzola)

(Parma, 1503 – Casalmaggiore, 1540)
Antea
ca. 1535
Oil on canvas
Farnese Collection
© Images by concession of the Ministry
of Culture - Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte

July - August 2022

 23

(Detail of)
Marcello Venusti
(Mazzo di Valtellina, 1512/1515 – Rome, 1579)
The Last Judgment (copy after Michelangelo)
1549
Tempera grassa on panel
Farnese Collection

The city of Naples, where the Farnese Collec-

tion would find its permanent home, has an
ancient history. As a major port in Southern
Italy, it stood as an entrepôt of Mediterranean
trade and commerce for centuries, playing
a vital role also in the exchange of art and
culture. The long history of the city is one of
changing political influences and powers. From
its humble Greek origins and its importance
as a leisure centre during the Roman Empire
to its repetitious decline and resurgence as it
was passed from one ruler to the next, Naples
faced turbulent changes and development.

During the seventeenth century, Naples was

the second largest metropolis in Europe gov-
erned by the Spanish. The city benefitted from
the wealth and prominence of its inhabitants
and the trade brought to it by merchants and
aristocrats who financed magnificent churches,
palaces and fabulous works of art.

In 1734, Naples became an independent king-

dom ruled by Charles of Bourbon. He was a son
of Philip V, King of Spain, and the grandson
of Louis XIV, the King of France. He was the
eldest son of Elisabetta Farnese, the King of
Spain’s second wife, who was born into the
prominent Italian Farnese family and gained
access to the Spanish throne by marriage.
Paintings by Michelangelo,
When Charles of Bourbon was crowned the
Raphael, Titian, Giovanni Bellini new sovereign of the Kingdom of Naples,
and El Greco are amongst the Elisabetta Farnese endowed her son with the
Farnese family art collection to reinforce his
many masterpieces acquired grandeur, power and opulent wealth.

and commissioned by The Farnese collection includes works by the

most renowned artists of the day. Paintings
the Farnese family by Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Giovanni
Bellini and El Greco are amongst the many

CULTURE
 The Road to the Baroque

(Detail of) (Detail of)

Bartolomeo Schedoni Matthias Stomer
(Modena, 1578 – Parma, 1615) (Amersfoort, Ca.1600 – Sicily, after 1650)
Saint Sebastian Tended by Pious Women Supper at Emmaus
1615, Oil on canvas 1632 – 1635, Oil on Canvas

masterpieces acquired and commissioned by biblical stories and patron saints in dramatic
the Farnese family. scenes and situations.

During his reign as King, Charles, coming from Baroque, an important period in Western art
a long line of royalty accustomed to amassing history that emerged after the Renaissance
grand works of art, continued the aristocratic period, is a style of seventeenth-century Italian
tradition and collected contemporary works art that is characterised by a dramatic contrast
from all over Europe, including the Baroque of light and dark, exaggerated movements
paintings that flourished in Naples. The city was and realistic representations of facial features,
home to many artists and workshops and was forms and emotions. opposite page
a flourishing market for art with a wide variety Christian Berentz
(Hamburg, 1658 - Rome, 1722)
of subject matter. Some of the most prominent This exhibition features forty late Renaissance Carlo Maratta
were Christian-themed works commissioned and Baroque masterpieces highlighting the (Camerano, 1625 – Rome, 1713)
Flowers and Fruit with Woman Pick-
by the clergy to decorate the city’s thousands height of Neapolitan art in the sixteenth and ing Grapes
of churches and monasteries. These featured seventeenth centuries. 1696, Oil on Canvas

July - August 2022

 25

CULTURE
The Road to the Baroque

One painting on display features the man who heightened influence and prestige, Pope Paul
exerted great influence in the development of III became a significant patron of the arts. He
the great art collections in The Capodimonte commissioned Michelangelo to paint The
Museum. The Portrait of Pope Paul III with the Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel and to
Camauro, the man born Alessandro Farnese, supervise the construction of St. Peter’s Basil-
is painted by Titian, one of the most popular ica. As the Pope, he was powerful enough to
and important painters of this time. compel the most fabulous and famous artists
of the day to do commissions for himself and
Ascending to the papacy in 1534, with his his family. He wanted the best artist to paint

July - August 2022

 27

his portrait, and he called for Titian, one of the to dramatize Christian principles and parables.
greatest painters at the time to do it. Titian’s Most were meant to be uplifting. Some, such
work was noted for its ability to express the as The Last Judgment, were meant as warnings.
complexity of the subject. In this example,
Titian illustrates the Pope’s political and spir- The genre of still life paintings found favour
itual power through the vibrant red cape and amongst collectors, and artists responded.
camauro – the traditional papal cap, and the The realistic works by Caravaggio and other
confident and direct gaze towards the viewer. Italian artists inspired works such as Still Life
with Festoons of Flowers and Game. Ordinary
One of the most striking paintings in the forms became extraordinarily detailed and
show is a Renaissance-era painting, Antea, textured with vibrant colours and layered
by Parmigianino. This showpiece presents a brushwork. In Flowers and Fruit with Woman
beautiful young lady in elegant, fine embroi- Picking Grapes, the rich and lavish composition
dered clothing and jewellery. The subject shows an exuberance of life, light and energy.
connects the viewer with her gentle gaze
and delicate hand gesture. The adornments The Road to the Baroque, Masterpieces from
clothing the subject give detailed clues and the Capodimonte Museum is a wholly reward-
indicates her affluence, yet the identity of this ing and immersive experience. Along with
lovely model is not known. The painting was the pleasant installation and informative
created in 1535 but was not given a title until descriptions of the paintings, Baroque music
much later. Perhaps she is the artist’s lover or and ambience, the exhibit provides a tiny taste
a composite ideal of feminine beauty. What is of what it may be like to visit the palace in
known is the skill and talent of the artist, and Naples in person.
his expert rendering of surfaces and textures,
such as that of the fabric of her clothing and Perhaps that is the true goal of this show.
(Detail of) the fur of a marten draping over her shoulder.
Giuseppe Recco
(Naples, 1634 – Alicante, 1695) However, for now, a quick visit to see these
Still Life with Festoons of Flowers There are several Christian-themed paint- masterpieces will certainly satisfy.
and Game
1671, Oil on canvas
ings such as The Last Judgment, a copy after
Michelangelo’s fresco painting on the ceiling
of the Sistine Chapel, and Supper at Emmaus, The Road to the Baroque
both illustrating biblical stories. Sacred art was Masterpieces from the Capodimonte Museum
produced to portray stories from the bible, Until 2 November
including the birth and life of Jesus Christ and Hong Kong Museum of Art

CULTURE
 Hong Kong’s Maritime Miracle
The Story of Our City Since 1945
Text & Photos Hong Kong Maritime Museum & Martin Wray

July - August 2022

 29

Consignment store-like Cabinet displaying “Made in Hong Kong” industrial products

Hong Kong Maritime Museum Collection

opposite page
World War II bomb found in The Maritime Museum has put together Hong hazard but also an opportunity in the form of
Hong Kong Island Kong’s Maritime Miracle: The Story of Our City steel, which was in short supply during the war.
On loan from the Explosive Ordnance Dis-
posal Bureau, Hong Kong Police Force Since 1945 as a reminder of the city’s rapid Salvaging it allowed for repurposing the steel
rebirth from the consequences of World War II into rebar for use in concrete construction.
and the role played by the maritime industry. This operation was so successful that for a few
years Hong Kong was exporting steel.
August 1945 saw the end of the Japanese
Occupation and WWII. Four years of heavy A short three months later, by November 1945,
bombing from Allied Powers virtually destroyed Hong Kong’s economy had already recovered
the city’s industrial infrastructure, especially to the point that most government controls
ships and port facilities. During that time, forced were lifted, and private trade resumed. The
repatriation to China among other reasons saw international shipping industry was back in
the population shrink from a pre-war figure of operation in a mere ten months. A stamp set
1.64 million to 600,000. The exhibition begins released in 1946 celebrated the end of the
with a solemn reminder, an American-made war in Hong Kong and depicted the rapid
500-pound bomb found at a construction site recovery of the city.
in Happy Valley in 2020.
By the end of 1947, the population had
From this point forward, Hong Kong recovered rebounded to 1.8 million, owing to the return
spectacularly. The first step was to remove the of pre-war residents and the arrival of huge
230 shipwrecks from the bottom of the harbour. numbers of migrants from China in search of
Water rationing These wrecks not only presented a shipping new opportunities. Businessmen, entrepre-

CULTURE
Hong Kong’s Maritime Miracle

neurs, intellectuals and a large number of

manual workers made their homes in Hong
Kong, bringing with them new skills, capital
and labour, along with the fervent desire to
rebuild their lives.

Hong Kong’s sheltered deep harbour was its

main attraction for shipping, but the territo-
ry’s hilly terrain and high urban density made
land for building wharves and godowns very
expensive. With few wharfs available for cargo
ships to dock, most were secured to buoys
or anchored in the western harbour. Cargo
work happened with a flurry of junks, barges,
coolies, foremen, tally clerks and agents ready
Min San Maru sunk at Hong Kong and Whampoa Dockyard pier
to account for the arriving cargo and to load 1947
Hong Kong Maritime Museum Collection

Everything changed with the container

revolution that reached Hong Kong
in the late 1960s

Diving helmet Diving torch

Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd, London Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd, London
On Loan from the Macalister Collection On Loan from the Macalister Collection

July - August 2022

 31

parcel of goods individually. Containerships

needed a port, with berths equipped with large
shore-side cranes to load and unload containers
and large adjacent flat areas to receive and store
them. The Hong Kong Government allocated
Gin Drinkers Bay near West Kowloon to oper-
ate a dedicated container terminal in the late
1960s. Various shipping consortiums banded
together to build the Kwai Chung Container
Terminal, which was completed in 1972. By
1987 Hong Kong overtook Rotterdam as the
world’s busiest container port, largely due to
the transhipment of cargo to and from China.

Concrete with steel bar (Replica) Japan, also rebuilding after the war, needed
to build up its merchant fleet to cope with
new cargo for departure. For some, it was the demand for raw materials from its rapidly
dangerous and poorly paid, and theft was growing industrialised base. Japanese-reg-
rampant, as was gang violence. Despite this, istered ships were required to operate with
export trade expanded rapidly throughout expensive Japanese crews, whereas Hong
the 1950s and 1960s. Kong shipowners operated at much lower
costs. To take advantage of these lower costs,
Everything changed with the container rev- the Japanese offered Hong Kong shipowners
olution that reached Hong Kong in the late long-term employment of the ships if they
1960s. Containerisation facilitated the seamless had them built in Japanese yards. The Japan
movement of large volumes of goods from ship Export-Import Bank also provided subsidised
to shore in standard-sized steel containers at a credit and finance terms and the prospect of
fraction of the previous cost of handling each long-term charters. The bank typically lent

Cargo handling bale hook Hong Kong’s 1960 water storage crisis
and tally stick box

CULTURE
Hong Kong’s Maritime Miracle

July - August 2022

 33

Early twentieth century coolie at wharf Bell of Clara Maersk

Reproduced by permission of the Government of the HKSAR from the collection of the
Hong Kong Museum of History

80 per cent of the ship’s price at 5 per cent an immediate temporary solution was also
interest. Shipowners would raise a further needed. This came in the form of using thirty
15 per cent from foreign bankers, who were cleaned-out oil tankers for the transportation
becoming more accommodating towards of water from the Pearl River. The tanker shuttle
ship finance. The final 5 per cent was the only for the period completed 1,371 24-hour round
cash contribution the actual owner had to trips from 24 June 1963, to 14 June 1964,
make. This arrangement allowed many Hong and delivered a total of 4,288 million gallons
Kong owners to buy their first new ships and of water, almost one-third of the total water
grow their fleets. The system came to an end consumption during that period.
in the 1980s, when Japanese ships were no
longer required to have Japanese crews. The fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City)
on 30 April 1975 finally brought an end to
The shipping industry came to the rescue the long-running Vietnam War (1955–1975).
during the 1963 Water Crisis. That year the Thousands of refugees fled to neighbouring
annual precipitation was recorded at only countries to escape the Viet Cong government.
901 mm, 42 per cent of the historic average, Hong Kong was one of the main points of
and reservoirs held less than 2 per cent of refuge. The first 3,743 refugees were brought
the customary reserves. The government in on the Danish freighter Clara Maersk on 4
was forced to implement water rationing. May 1975.
Water was supplied for three hours a day in
May, then reduced to four hours every two The number of incoming refugees between
days and finally four hours every four days 1975 and 1978 was moderate relative to the
in June. much bigger wave of refugees that arrived
after the deterioration of the Sino-Vietnam-
The British and Chinese governments reached ese relationship in 1978 and the Vietnamese
Opposite page an agreement for a pipeline from the Dongji- government’s decision to expel ethnic Chinese
Water is precious ang (East River), a tributary of the Pearl River, and confiscate their properties. These ethnic
Government Poster
Hong Kong Maritime Museum Collection which solved the long-term problem, but Chinese in Vietnam were forced to leave the

CULTURE
Hong Kong’s Maritime Miracle

country.

Skyluck, a notorious refugee trafficking vessel

with thousands of Vietnamese and Chinese
refugees on board, was deliberately stranded
on the rocks near Shek Kok Tsui on Lamma
Island on 29 June 1979. The ship had slipped
unannounced into Hong Kong waters in the
early hours of 8 February 1979. Forced to
remain at anchor for nearly five months, the
refugees cut the ship’s anchor cable as a storm
approached, resulting in the vessel drifting
until it ran aground on Lamma Island and
sank at the stern.

From 1975 onwards, over 220,000 Vietnamese

migrants arrived in Hong Kong. More than
143,000 of them were resettled overseas, about
75,000 were repatriated, and about 16,000
were permitted to stay. Among their stories,
which are mostly of despair, fear and grief, is
the uplifting tale of David Tran, who was one
of the ethnic Chinese refugees from Vietnam
aboard the Huey Fong. Tran, who eventually
settled in the United States, launched a spicy
sauce manufacturing business called Huy Fong
Foods in 1980, delivering his products per-
sonally across California. This American-made
Sriracha spicy sauce is now popular not only
in the United States but across the world. In
2018, Huy Fong’s revenue reached US$153.8
million.
'Vietnamese boat people': the ship Skyluck aground and sinking at Lamma Island Hong Kong
Ken Howard, R.A.,
1980, Oil on canvas
Hong Kong Maritime Museum Collection

Twistlock Sriracha hot chilli sauce

Gift of Hong Kong International Terminals
Hong Kong Maritime Museum Collection
All containers have eight identical steel corner castings
to lock them into ships, trucks and railcars.

July - August 2022

 35

Hong Kong Souvenir First Day Cover issued after the end of the Japanese Occupation, stamped 29 August 1946
Hong Kong Maritime Museum Collection

Creating new land for housing and commercial Government takes note of the environment,
purposes in the urban area has always been a with controls over building heights to allow
challenge in Hong Kong. Locations on either better integration between the ridgeline and
side of Victoria Harbour have frequently been the waterfront.
a target. As a result, by the end of 2000, more
than one-third of the original harbour had The Harbourfront Committee, later to become
been infilled and “lost”. the Harbourfront Commission, was established
in 2004 to champion and protect Victoria Har-
In 1996, a new residential area was proposed bour and to monitor its future development.
for a further 186-hectare site to be reclaimed The prime objective of the Commission is
between Green Island and northern Kennedy to “bring the harbour to the people and the
Town. However, the proposal raised consider- people to the harbour” and to make Victoria
able concern among the community, and the Harbour accessible to and enjoyed by all. The
Society for Protection of the Harbour, formed Commission’s work is ongoing and includes
to oppose further reclamation, conducted a plans for more promenades to preserve
successful “Save Our Harbour” campaign. This the visual permeability of the harbour and
led to the withdrawal of the proposal and the to create a “vibrant, green and accessible”
passing of the Protection of the Harbour Ordi- waterfront.
nance in 1997. The Ordinance was amended in
1999 to extend its scope of application to the This exhibition successfully raises awareness
entire Victoria Harbour. As a capstone to this of the vital importance of shipping in our
fundamental change in urban development daily lives and the connectivity between the
objectives, this Ordinance legally defined the maritime community and Hong Kongers.
harbour as “a special public asset and a natural Shipping and our waterfront are core to much
heritage of Hong Kong people”. of what this city has and will continue to offer
to residents and the rest of the world.
In recent years, the Government has been
opening access to the harbour to the general
public. This is expected to continue as com- Hong Kong's Maritime Miracle: The Story of
mercial wharves, dockyards and other old Our City since 1945
coastal industrial sites are closed or relocated. Until 30 October
When considering coastal development, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum

CULTURE
 Aperture

Illustrator - Karen Aruba Master craftsman Cheung Sing Chung

July - August 2022

 37

Beyond Borders
of Mahjong
The Art of Mahjong Craft
Text Martin Wray / Photos AndyPoll / Karen Aruba Gallery

Mahjong is a popular game played in leisure, at Chinese wedding banquets, at

Hong Kong. It brings four people around a family gatherings and during traditional
square table to play a game of chance and holidays. Experienced players compete and
strategy with suits of carved tiles, somewhat teach novices. Generations come together
like gin rummy played with dominoes. It is and have a common point of conversation.
played at mahjong parlours, at homes for

CULTURE
Aperture - Beyond Borders of Mahjong

The chattering of sparrows sounds like tiles

sliding across a table, so the Chinese word for
sparrow is the name of the game. Mahjong
was invented in China and widely played at
the turn of the nineteenth century. Originally
it was a card-based game before the more
wind-resilient tile version became popular. It
was exported to America in 1920 and became
a game for women in New York, who created
Mahjong leagues. It was banned in China
between 1949 and 1985, because the gov-
ernment thought it was linked to gambling
and too distracting for the people.

Inexpensive factory-made sets in China effec-

tively ended demand for the hand-carved
versions, so today there are only a few aged
Hong Kong masters still working in the tradi-
tional manner. But expert players prefer hand-
carved tiles, because, unlike machine-made
ones, each tile has a unique feel. Thus, their
eyes can be on their competitors at the most
important moments of the game.

Master craftsman Cheung Sing Chung has been

hand-carving mahjong tiles since the age of
thirteen when he apprenticed to his father. At
his peak, he could carve four sets of 144 tiles
a day. Now semi-retired, his daughter Karen
Aruba is the third-generation advocator of the
artform. Awareness was further encouraged
in 2014, when the Hong Kong Government
formally listed “Mahjong Tile Making Technique”
as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

But for mahjong tile making to flourish, it must

also adapt. So, Karen has applied her illustrator
training to reinterpret the traditional game Vanishing
pieces with three new designs inspired by her Multiple exposures of black & white images create the illusion of tiles vanishing,
much like the art of traditional hand carving
travels to Canada and Greenland and by her
experiences in Hong Kong. For each set, her
dad carves the tiles and she hand-paints each Mahjong was invented in China and
with bright, original, often metallic colours. widely played at the turn of the
For this exhibition, photographer AndyPoll nineteenth century. Originally it
captured the carving and painting process and was a card-based game before the
put the final product under a microscope (ie,
a macro lens) providing a larger perspective
more wind-resilient tile version
on the work of the Cheung family. became popular
July - August 2022
 39

The intricacies of the carving Depth of the force

A close-up of the Chinese Character Six, emphasising the
required strokes, angles, and depth of the calligraphy

Circulation
Slightly overlapping circles show how precise hand
carving need be

Mahjong Wanderlust
This original Hong Kong-themed set bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and art, with its depictions
of a pawn shop, a bamboo forest garden, Hong Kong food, junk boats, and familiar landscapes.
Designed by ‘Karen Aruba Art’.

CULTURE
Aperture - Beyond Borders of Mahjong

Original artwork integrated with laser engraving and vibrant hand-painted colours

RGB
Metallic red, green and blue colours grace a circle tile

To the uninitiated, the sound of clashing

mahjong tiles may just be noise and the rules
almost incomprehensible. But this exhibition
shows that even without expert knowledge,
one can appreciate mahjong as an art form
and its part in Hong Kong’s shared cultural
experience.

Until 13 August 2022

Beyond Borders of Mahjong
HKI Gallery
7/f, China Chem Johnston Plaza, Wanchai

July - August 2022

 Art Appreciation
41

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CULTURE
 All Around
the World

Germany Avant-Garde Rising

Dayanita Singh: Dancing with my Camera The Photographic Vanguard in Modern Japan
Until 7 August Until 21 August
Gropius Bau, Berlin Tokyo Photographic Art Museum
This exhibition presents the major phases of Dayanita Singh’s The Avant-Garde photography movement in Japan was
work, from her black and white portraits of India’s urban middle popularized by amateurs during the '30s and ‘40s who were
and upper classes to night landscapes and photographs satu- strongly influenced by foreign art movements like Surrealism
rated with intense colour. She uses her diverse catalogue as and Abstract Art. This exhibition showcases their creative
the raw material for book-objects she calls “portable museums” progression with this new freedom of thinking.
which she then transforms into photo-architecture—mobile topmuseum.jp
structures made of teak and displayed in actual museums. In
so doing, Singh has pioneered a form that is simultaneously a
book, a catalogue and an exhibition.
berlinerfestspiele.de

Barbara Kruger: Please Cry

Until 28 August
SMB, Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin
Barbara Kruger, a conceptual artist, is well known for her
large-format graphic works. She has developed a site-specific
text installation for this exhibition that addresses the political
and social effects of social media and seeks to provoke and
engage in discussions on society and modern life.
smb.museum

Japan
Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser
Until 10 October
Mori Arts Center Gallery
Continuing the exhibition that started at the Victoria & Albert
Museum in the UK, Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser takes a look
at the influence of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland in global
cultures from art and theatre to music and fashion. With an amaz-
ing collection and colourful installations, audiences can interact
with the art and so create a unique experience for themselves.
macg.roppongihills.com

July - August 2022

 43

My Your Memory
The Script, 2018, single-channel video, color, sound
© Akram Zaatari, Courtesy of the artist and Thomas Dane Gallery

United States
Bridget Riley: Perceptual Abstraction
Until 24 July
Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut
Over a seven-decade career, Bridget Riley has used colour, line
and geometric patterns to explore the dynamic nature of visual
perception in paintings, drawings, and screen prints. She first
achieved international prominence in the early 1960s with her
distinctive black-and-white paintings, their rhythmic lines and

South Korea curves appearing to vibrate across the canvas. Since then, Riley
has relied on deceptively simple shapes to startling effect. The
My Your Memory exhibition traces the evolution of her deep engagement with
Until 7 August
the fundamentals of visual perception.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
britishart.yale.edu
A special group exhibition of thirteen local and overseas artists
examines and interprets the concept of memory through a
Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas
mix of mediums and materials. The exhibition is set up in three
Until 31 July
sections. Section 1, titled “My Your Memory”, focuses on the Philadelphia Museum of Art
influence of one's actions on memory; Section 2, titled “Here A retrospective exhibition of Sean Scully's amazing career
and Now”, focuses on the relationship between memory and spanning over fifty years presents his bold experiments with
time; and Section 3, titled “That Time. That Place”, delves into the shapes and stripes in his works using different types of media.
significance of how past events can be remembered in the future. philamuseum.org
mmca.go.kr

right
Sean Scully: The Shape of Ideas
Pale Fire, Sean Scully,1988, Oil on Linen
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas,
Modern purchase, Sid W.Richardson Foundation
Endowment Fund
© Sean Scully

left
Dayanita Singh: Dancing with
my Camera
Museum of Chance
Dayanita Singh,2013
©Dayanita Singh

CULTURE
2022 events
JULY to see & do

Mastering Master-
pieces: The Essentials
of Chinese Landscape
paintings
Until 14 September

Gao Jian (1635 -1713)

Rivers and mountains without end
1678
Handscroll (section)
ink and colour on paper
Chih Lo Lou Collection

15 July – 2 November 23 July – 13 August

The Road to the Baroque – Masterpieces from the Capodimonte Beyond Borders of Mahjong
Museum HKI Gallery
Hong Kong Museum of Art Take a closer look at the art of one of Hong Kong's iconic pastimes, Mahjong.
Forty magnificent Italian Renaissance paintings from the Capodimonte This collaboration of photographer AndyPoll, mahjong hand-carving master
Museum are on loan to the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Historians coined the Ricky Cheung Sing Chung and artist Karen Aruba helps us to see the artistry
term Baroque to define seventeenth-century Italian art which focused on involved in the hand-carved mahjong-making process.
high tension and realistic representations of emotions. These paintings are Through the mediums of photography, illustration and painting this exhi-
characterised by a dramatic contrast of light and dark, exaggerated move- bition reveals subtle symbolism, stories and the craftsmanship behind this
ment and pronounced facial expressions. To complement the exhibition, classic Chinese game.
Professor Johnny Poon, Founding Dean of the School of Creative Arts of karenaruba.com
Hong Kong Baptist University has designed Baroque music and soundscapes
to add a new dimension to the appreciation experience.
hk.art.museum
Extended to 30 September
Recovery, Resilience, Resurgence

21 - 24 July Thirty Years of Hong Kong Photographs, 1940s – 1970s

Chantal Miller Gallery, Asia Society Hong Kong
Stellar Moments of Humankind: The World of Stefan Zweig in
Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake separately photographed
Cinema
Hong Kong at pivotal times and with varying styles. Morrison captured ordi-
Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre nary people during the postwar recovery, Lee was a self-taught photogra-
Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was one of the most popular writers of his time. As pher selling photos of interest to tourists, and Brake created highly crafted,
a famous Jewish-Austrian, his books were censored, vilified and destroyed by pre-envisioned photo stories that were published by LIFE International and
the Nazis in the '30s and '40s. Well known for his articulate pacifism, his work National Geographic.
has served as the basis of many film adaptations and inspirations and is the asiasociety.org
subject of these film screenings.
hkac.org.hk

July - August 2022

 45

Stellar Moments of
Humankind: The World of
Stefan Zweig in Cinema
21 - 24 July

The Grand Budapest Hotel

CULTURE
 2022 events
AUGUST to see & do

Extended to 1 August Until 13 August

X-Xperimenting Exhibitions Women Direct. Korean Indies!
Danny Yung 50 Year Creations Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Heritage Museum These screenings of indie films explore stories of women of different gener-
The Heritage Museum is celebrating Danny Yung's fifty years as an art ations and their life choices. They tell how women overcame misfortune and
pioneer and advocate for international artistic exchange. He is keen on stigmas to bring about discoveries, enlightenment and connections with the
cross-media art creations, including film, comics, installations, video, theatre hope of addressing realities of changing priorities, the phenomenon of holo-
and conceptual art. This exhibition is a reconstruction of some of his classic jok (people who prefer to be left alone in one-person households), ageism,
works including Video Circle, which was exhibited in Berlin and Tian Tian sexism, labour exploitation and historical tragedies.
Xiang Shang, a large-scale flower plaque bamboo installation, which was hkac.org.hk
first exhibited at the National Mall in Washington, DC.
heritagemuseum.gov.hk
13 –14 August
6 –14 August Don Pasquale
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
Summer Family Screening Gaetano Donizetti's last entertaining and comedic bel canto opera, Don
Hong Kong Film Archive and Hong Kong City Hall Pasquale tells the story of a wealthy old man who decides to get married in
Take your family to a screening of five animation and live-action films. This order to produce an heir. Pasquale asks his friend Dr Malatesta to help him
year's award-winning films were developed in Austria, Canada, Czech Repub- find a worthy woman but Malatesta considers Pasquale to be foolish in his
lic, France, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. On show are Even Mice Belong in thinking. This sets in motion the plot of the play, with romance, amusing
Heaven, Laura's Star, The Fantastic Journey of Margot & Marguerite, Felix and consequences and enjoyable operatic music.
the Treasure of Morgäa and Rabbit Academy – Mission: Eggpossible. Three of operahongkong.org
the five films are in English and all include Chinese and English subtitles.
lcsd.gov.hk

The Big Right – Dinosaur Revelation

Until 16 November

July - August 2022

 47

Artistic Crosscurrents from Guangdong:

Until 21 August Selected Painting and Calligraphy from Late
Artistic Crosscurrents from Guangdong: Selected Painting and Qing to Republican China
Calligraphy from Late Qing to Republican China
Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
A continuation of a previous exhibition, Artistic Confluence in Guangdong,
Until 21 August
takes a closer look at Guangdong's development and growth through unsta-
ble times. Highlights include calligraphy, paintings, seals and rubbings that
distinguish the style and essence of Guangdong's culture and lifestyle.
artmuseum.cuhk.edu.hk

24 August – 21 November
Dunhuang: Enchanting Tales for the Millennium
Hong Kong Heritage Museum
This joint exhibition with the Dunhuang Academy features a range of murals,
artefacts, reproductions of silk paintings and a replica of the Buddhist cave
temple Yulin Cave 25. Multi-media programmes and installations help
visitors visualise many of the murals preserved on the cave walls and provide
insight into Buddhism.
hk.heritage.museum

Don Pasquale
13-14 August

Ju Chao (1811–1865)
Bird and Inserts
Dated 1849
Round fan mounted as an album leaf, colour on gold-flecked paper
Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK
Gift of Mr. Ho Iu-kwong, Mr. Huo Pao-tsai, Mr. Lai Tak and others

27 August
Luka Faulisi Plays Prokofiev
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
A young talent who has already impressed music lovers around the world,
Faulisi's interpretation of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No.1 is inspired. Included
also is a premiere in Asia of English Composer Anna Clyne's Sound and
Fury, influenced by Haydn's Symphony No.60, il Distratto and Shakespeare's
Macbeth.
hksl.org

Until 31 August
Vivian Maier – Self Portraits
f22 foto space
In 1949 Vivian Maier began documenting life on film. This began a forty-year
secret life as a street photographer in New York and Chicago. When not
working as a nanny, she took photographs which she hoarded in lockers
and never showed to anyone. Not until 2007 was her massive body of
100,000 negatives discovered when the contents of her unpaid lockers were
auctioned off. Her humble life belies her skill in documenting street life,
frequently finding beauty overlooked by others.
f22fotos.com
Anna Zhang

CULTURE
2022 events
NOW to see & do

CURRENT SHOWS PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS

Until 14 September A Glimpse of Tsui’s Collection
Mastering Masterpieces: The Essentials of Chinese Landscape Hong Kong Heritage Museum
paintings The museum has selected outstanding items from the Foundation’s
Hong Kong Museum of Art collection to share with the public the interests of the late Dr T T Tsui.
With large-scale multimedia installations, the HKMoA has constructed The exhibit features fine works of the applied arts and other exhibits,
an experience to transpose visitors into digital versions of their land- which include jade carvings and accessories. Also featured are wood
scape paintings. Patrons can witness changing seasons and explore objects inlaid with mother-of-pearl and precious stones as well as
different ink and brush techniques and so have a better appreciation textile panels. To complement the display, the museum also features
of how these ancient masters worked. items of jade and gold from its collection.
hk.art.museum heritagemuseum.gov.hk

Until 25 September A Man Beyond the Ordinary: Bruce Lee

Adrift in Time – Photography by Chun Wai Hong Kong Heritage Museum
University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong It has been almost fifty years since Bruce Lee’s death, yet his legacy
Chun Wai’s photographs during the 1980s and ‘90s were taken while continues to grow. Hence, in conjunction with the Bruce Lee Founda-
he was a foreign student in Paris. The negatives had been in storage for tion, this almost permanent exhibition has been held at the Herit-
many years, preserving treasured memories and keeping a souvenir of age Museum. The exhibit has been revised with over 400 articles of
a specific time in Chun Wai’s life. When he rediscovered them decades memorabilia and large-scale multimedia and interactive programmes
later, he found his collection of photographs had deteriorated. The that detail his philosophy, writing, and accomplishments in films and
exhibition shows the results of his efforts to recover the images. martial arts that built the legend that is Bruce Lee.
umag.hku.hk hkhmbrucelee2021.com

Until 9 October
Noda Tetsuya's Diary of Contemporary Japanese Prints
University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong
Noda Tetsuya documented his life from the 1960s onward via a Vivian Maier – Self Portraits
self-invented process that combined photography, traditional Jap-
anese woodblock printing, mimeograph duplication and silkscreen
printing. He featured his family and friends, self-portraits, landscapes,
Until 31 August
gifts and a series of plants that not only resulted in a life-long chron-
icling of intricately poetic private prints but also a body of work with
universal resonance.
umag.hku.hk

Until 30 October
Hong Kong's Maritime Miracle: The Story of Our City since 1945
Hong Kong Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum is hosting an exhibition highlighting the
enormous change Hong Kong has been through since World War II.
Hong Kong’s post-war recovery was astonishingly swift, taking full
advantage of the steel recovered from 230 wrecks at the bottom
of the harbour and the return of over a million people from China.
The maritime contribution from shipbuilding to cargo handling and
containerisation can not be overstated. Hong Kong’s sheltered deep
harbour has been the main attraction for shipping, then for tourism
and is arguably the source of its continuing prosperity.
hkmaritimemuseum.org

Until 16 November
The Big Right – Dinosaur Revelation
Hong Kong Science Museum
This show features the iconic dinosaurs from the Golden Age of Dino-
saurs, including Tyrannosaurus, Spinosaurus, Hesperosaurus, Diplo-
docus, Triceratops, Allosaurus and a baby sauropod. Artwork, fossil Self-portrait, 1954
information and 3D renderings as well as colourful installations inform © Estate of Vivian Maier, Courtesy Maloof Collection and Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York
and engage young audiences with the history of dinosaurs and their
time on earth.
hk.science.museum
The dates referenced are correct at the time of printing.
Please reconfirm before visiting the venues.
July - August 2022
 visit the

Art around the World

HK Presents

POP ART
FROM WARHOL
TO PANAMARENKO M+ MUSEUM

Adventures Far
Afield Art in the MTR

MAGNIFICENT CHOI HUNG

RAJASTHAN

the CULTURE experience is available online

culture-hongkong.com
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