The exhibition, "Virtuous Heritage: Xu Family of Guangzhou – Mandarins, Revolutionaries, Educators and Scientists" narrates the political evolution of China through the individual histories of the Xu clan in Southern China and its influence from the Qing dynasty to modern China.
The Xu (Hui in Cantonese) family migrated from Chaozhou in eastern Guangdong to the provincial capital Guangzhou in the early 19th century. Generations of the Xu family flourished in an extensive private residential compound known as Xudi, parts of which still stand today. Beginning from the late Qing period and through the Republican era to the present, members of the Xu family have been influential in charting the destiny of the Chinese nation.
Members of the Xu clan have served in many capacities, including Qing mandarins of various ranks; the first generation of the Chinese diplomatic corps; revolutionary military commanders; a martyr general of the 7th Red Army; celebrated poets; the wife of a literary giant; as well as important educators and scientists through the successive episodes of the Opium War, the Taiping Rebellion, the Reform Movement of 1898, late-Qing Constitutional Monarchy, 1911 Revolution, Sino-Japanese War, up to the formation of a new China.
This guided tour will be led by Xu clan descendants, Humphrey K.F. Hui and his nephew, Danny Hui. A long-standing member of the Min Chiu Society, Humphrey is a collector and an international speaker on Chinese arts. His collection of snuff bottles and other art objects have been exhibited in museums in Hong Kong, Australia, and the United States. Danny has been the Secretary-General of Guangzhou Xudi, The Xu Clansmen’s Association since 2006. His business careers include President of United Media Group Limited from 1981-1998, Senior Vice President, Head of TV Production of Columbia TriStar Television Asia, and Chief Executive Officer of Super Television of Taiwan from 1998-1999. Together, Humphrey and Danny will share personal stories about their distinguished family and its legacies in the political evolution of modern China.
Where do you go for good Italian food in Hong Kong?
To answer this question, Gabriella Giubilei, Museum Society member and a former Cultural Officer of the Consulate General of Italy responsible for promoting her country's very rich culture, has graciously agreed to show us her favourite trattoria, La Piazzeta. Together with the restaurant's chef and founder, Paolo Donati, they will create a special menu bursting with the flavours of Italy. Using fresh ingredients from his home country, Chef Donati will prepare a sumptuous meal with a variety of regional dishes. The menu will include three appetisers, three pasta dishes, one fish and meat, plus dessert. To top it off, a nice pairing of wine will complement our feast.
Do join us for an Italian evening of fun, good food and wine with fellow members – a prelude to our wine and truffle tour to Tuscany in October. Ciao!
Part 1:
The exhibition, "Beauty & Entirety: Ceramics of the Song Dynasty from the Palace Museum", showcases 187 pieces of exquisite imperial and folk ceramics of the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD) from the Beijing Palace Museum collection. Wares from imperial palaces, made by the five famous (official) kilns of Song, as well as ceramics of distinctive features produced by various folk kilns will be exhibited. The collection offers an overview of ceramics produced at the peak of Chinese ceramic art history.
We are delighted to have Yeung Chun-tong (楊春棠), Director of The University Museum and Art Gallery guide us on a tour of this exhibition. Yeung obtained his BA and MPhil from HKU and has worked at UMAG for 35 years. He is Honorary Associate Professor in the Fine Arts Department of HKU, teaching Chinese Material Culture and Museum Studies.
Part 2:
We will savor a gourmet lunch at Don Alfonso, Macau's two-star Michelin restaurant serving fine Southern Italian cuisine by Chef Alfonso Laccarino.
Part 3:
Dr. Francisco Viseu Pinheiro of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau in Macau, will guide us on a tour in St. Augustine's Square, including St. Augustine’s Church, Dom Pedro V Theatre and Sir Robert Ho Tung Library. He will also give a presentation on the Macau UNESCO heritage sites and their application to qualify for this prestigious designation.
“The theme for the 2011-12 edition of the Shenzhen Biennale is rooted in the very conception of the event, which first appeared in 2005. Uniquely, this biennial exhibition features not only architecture but urbanism, which is rarely addressed in such event. The combination is immensely appropriate, as these two human activities are inseparable even if they are often treated as separate disciplines. Throughout history, they have been totally interdependent in the transformation and growth of human settlements. Hence, the theme: Architecture creates cities. Cities create architecture.” – Terrence Riley
Terrence Riley is the Chief Curator of the 2011 Shenzhen & Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture, and an internationally recognized leader in the design and development of cultural facilities and programs. He has been involved with the renovation and expansion of many prominent museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York). In this Biennale, he and his international curatorial team bring together over 100 architects, curators and other creative individuals to present exhibits/dialogues about the relationship between architecture and urbanism on a global and contemporary scale, in the context of sustainability and vitality.
The HKU Museum Society and the Friends of the HK Art Museum jointly present the tour of this Biannale. We will be guided by HK architect Joan Leung, a graduate with a M. Arch degree from MIT, and a former faculty of HKU Architecture Department until she founded Lotus Architects Ltd in 1987 with her late husband, Professor Eric Lye, Dean and Head of HKU Architecture Department. Since then, she has done many notable projects, including the Clubhouse at the Arch, which won the Grand Award of Quality Building Award for 2008. She is a member of the West Kowloon Cultural District Advisory Committee, and the Heritage and Conservation Committee, and publishes papers on architecture education, interior architecture and green building.
The day's itinerary will include visit to the Biennale, lunch and a stop to an interior furnishings outlet before heading home.
Overview:
This lecture gives an overview of the historical development of modern museum architecture and explains the social meaning inherent in the development of museum architecture, and how the architectural expressions of the museum typology are a direct reflection of social ideologies of different times.
Speaker:
Dr. Lee Ho Yin (李浩然博士) is the Director of Architectural Conservation Programme in the Department of Architecture at The University of Hong Kong.
Overview:
We began our HKU Museum Society activities last year with an outdoor trip to the Sai Kung Rock Region. This year, it is fitting to continue this tradition of discovering the great natural beauty of Hong Kong in Tung Lung Chau (東龍洲) and Po Toi Island (蒲台島) again with Professor Chan Lung-sang.
We will walk to the largest ancient rock carving in Hong Kong on Tung Lung Chau, located just east of Victoria Harbour. The distance of the walk is about 2 km round trip. If time and weather conditions permit, we will ride to the Ninepin Islands to view the sea arch and spectacular coastal landforms of this area.
Lunch and a walk will be arranged in Po Toi, a small island just 3 km off the southeastern coast of Hong Kong Island. Many of the rock formations have been poetically named Turtle Rock, Monk Rock, etc, although admittedly, one has to have a huge dose of imagination to envision the various shapes that they were named for. We will learn about rock formation and rock history from Professor Chan. The rugged coastline has been hewn from continuous pounding of the waves below the cliffs. Like most islands, there is a Tin Hau Temple, where in the old days, fishermen prayed for good harvests and safe journeys. The trip will end at about 5 pm when we disembark in Aberdeen.
Resource Person:
Professor Chan Lung-sang (陳龍生教授) is an expert in Hong Kong geology. He received his bachelor degree from Chinese University of Hong Kong and his Ph.D from University of California at Berkeley. He taught for 10 years in the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and 17 years in the Science Faculty of the University of Hong Kong. His leadership in teaching and learning was recognized when he was awarded the University of Hong Kong's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2009. A true believer of experiential learning, he has led many field trips around Hong Kong for the public and education sectors. He was invited to guest host the TV documentary series 'Vanishing Glacier' in 2008 and 'Water of Life' recently.
由香港大學博物館名譽顧問、著名香港歷史學家鄭寶鴻先生帶領，同遊香港的心臟地帶 — 中西區。隨著時代變遷、社會進步，真是「古今多少事、都付笑談中」。漫步在新舊交錯的中西區建設中，鄭先生將會給我們講解今昔典故，奕奕如生。
途經：中環外商及華人的銀行區、貿易中心、早期的戲院、中環街市一帶雲集的茶樓和食肆。
上環文咸東街的華人金融區、早期華人活動場所及果欄的「十王殿廣場」、上環街市、華人貿易巨擘的「南北行」及「鹹魚欄」、「國家醫院」所在的「雀仔橋」、「掘斷山街」(荷李活道) 、 早期名為「佔領角」的「大笪地」(荷李活公園)、東華醫院、文武廟、皇仁書院等。
最後，經歌賦街往蓮香茶樓品茗特別預定的懷舊點心。
With the cool weather of December, we have invited UMAG honorary advisor and Hong Kong historian Cheng Po Hung to lead a walking tour through the Central and Western Districts where the juxtapositions of old and new, East and West are clear testimonials of the growth and development of Hong Kong. Starting from Statue Square, Cheng will recount stories as we cover landmarks from banking and trading, cinemas, hospitals, temples, markets and restaurants before ending at Lin Heung Tea House for some nostalgic dim sums.
Do join us for this trip down memory lane to revisit the past, face the present, and consider what’s ahead.
“Digital photography has provided every camera user with a lot more freedom for creative experimentation,” says Carsten Schael, President of the Institute of Professional Photographers and an award-winning photographer with a background in commercial visual art.
In this 2nd four-hour workshop, Carsten will teach and encourage you to take a more creative approach in digital photography. He will cover the theory of creative techniques followed with the practical task of photo-shooting, review and edit before ending with individual critique sessions. Understanding that people in Hong Kong are very busy, this workshop aims to instantly broaden your creative realm.
Please bring along your digital camera (big or small) to produce immediate results in the guided shooting session.
As this workshop requires some basic knowledge of your camera functions, please consider attending the earlier workshop “Exploring Digital Photography” to optimize your understanding.
Hong Kong has long been a city of wine aficionados, but historically collectors and investors stored their wines overseas to avoid wine import taxes. When wine duties were lifted in 2008, the financial benefits of storing wine halfway across the world vanished and Hong Kong immediately became a viable destination for wine cellars. Wine buffs from around the region quickly flocked to Hong Kong to find storage options for their fine collections.
13 Degrees is one such full service wine storage facility that offers sophisticated climate control and security systems to protect valuable liquid assets while allowing them to mature in a nurturing environment. Boasting spacious rooms for events and tastings, the connoisseur owners designed the cellarage not only fit for their personal collections but also as a venue where wine collectors could gather to enjoy fine wine and gourmet food.
For this special occasion, we are pleased to announce that 13 Degrees will kindly open their private venue to our members. Based on the fresh catch of the day, their in-house Chef Ming will prepare a gourmet nine-course Chinese seafood dinner tastefully paired with fine wine.
One month quickly passes and our first members’ photography exhibition "Celebrations!" will end soon on 15 November 2011. To complete the fun that has led up to this special event, everyone is invited to a closing party to meet and chat with photographers and friends over wine and cheese while listening to some light jazzy music. This will be a casual get-together for a last glimpse of the exhibition before it is dismantled at 6:00 pm.
It will also be a wonderful chance for members to socialize and share feedbacks with the Executive Committee about the exhibition and photography book or other activities and trips. New ideas and volunteers are greatly welcome.
In the season of Thanksgiving, let’s pat each other on the back, and celebrate the good works done for "Celebrations!"
