Guided Viewing: “On Ink and Bamboo: The Hua-e Jiaohui Lou Donation” with the collector Dr Kössen M. T. Ho at the HKMoA
The HKU Museum Society is delighted to present a guided viewing of “On Ink and Bamboo: The Hua-e Jiaohui Lou Donation” with the collector Dr Kössen M. T. Ho at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Rustic yet refined, bamboo has been revered by scholars and gentlemen since ancient times. Emerging as a prominent tradition during the Ming and Qing dynasties, literati bamboo carving continues to thrive today as an exceptionally elegant and refined Chinese art form.
The Hong Kong Museum of Art is honoured to receive the generous donation from Dr Kössen M. T. Ho, which consists of over 340 items from the Hua-e Jiaohui Lou Collection. This diverse collection encompasses wood carvings, Chinese painting and calligraphy, ink rubbings, and textiles, with modern bamboo carvings forming the largest category. It also marks the largest donation of bamboo carvings received by any museum in Hong Kong over the past forty years.
This exhibition features a curated selection of nearly 200 sets of artworks from the donation, many of which were personally designed by Dr Ho. These bamboo and wood carvings not only showcase exceptional craftsmanship but also reflect his unique philosophy in collecting and appreciating this art form. Many of these carvings draw inspiration from paintings and calligraphy, with artisans transposing ink strokes into carved marks. The carved designs are in turn captured as ink rubbings, gracefully returning the imagery to paper. This fluid interplay of media creates a fascinating dialogue between carving and brushwork. More importantly, it reflects the deep artistic bonds and shared vision among artisans, painters, literati and the collector himself, demonstrating the refined elegance of bamboo-carving art.
About the Hua-e Jiaohui Lou 華萼交輝樓 Collection
Dr Kössen M. T. Ho began building his private collection in 1997, naming it “Hua-e Jiaohui”. In classical Chinese, hua-e refers to the interdependent bond between a flower and its calyx, serving as a graceful metaphor for brotherly harmony. The name is deeply rooted in Dr Ho’s ancestry: the success of his forefathers in the highest imperial examination together earned them the prestigious accolade of “flowers and calyxes shining in mutual splendour 花萼交輝”. This elegant title thus holds a dual significance, reflecting Dr Ho’s refined passion for floral motifs and botanical art, while paying homage to his distinguished family heritage.
A highly respected medical professional, Dr Ho has long devoted his time outside of practice to the arts. His journey into bamboo carving began during his doctoral studies in the United Kingdom, sparked by a serendipitous encounter with the renowned scholar Wang Shixiang 王世襄. Since then, Dr Ho has immersed himself in the field. Going beyond traditional collecting, he actively participates in the creative process, fostering a dynamic dialogue with master painters, calligraphers and skilled artisans to translate ingenious concepts into carved scholar’s objects. The collection features remarkably diverse themes, with works inspired by masterful brushwork or reimagined from antiquities within his own holdings. Meticulously curated and rigorously researched, Dr Ho’s collection is highly cohesive, earning him profound respect within both academic and collecting circles.
Building upon the historical lineage of the Museum’s existing collection of Ming and Qing bamboo carvings, this generous donation from the Hua-e Jiaohui Lou collection opens a new chapter in the study of modern Chinese bamboo craftsmanship. It stands as a true treasure in the art of Chinese bamboo carving.
Dr Ho is the author of the picture album 華萼交輝-孟澈雅製文玩家具 and editor/author of the book 留住一抹夕陽-周漢生竹刻藝術
More information about the exhibition can be found at:
https://hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/on-ink-and-bamboo.html
Photo credit to HKMoA