Archives: Activity

The HKU Museum Society is pleased to present a talk “Re-exploring the Opium War of 1841 from 1 Book, 1 Drawing and 1 Medal” with Kwok King Cheung Bassanio.  This talk will be conducted in Cantonese.

Synopsis

The Opium War marked the beginning of modern China.  As the consequence of the Treaty of Nanking, the Manchu Government fell into the abyss of repeated military defeats and hence national humiliations which resulted in its eventual overthrow.  The general explanation of the defeat of the Manchu in the war was due to British warships’ sturdy construction and cannons’ high power.  But the research into the details reveals a lot of surprising findings.  The talk will focus on the books, drawings and medals of the 1840s, with the purpose of re-exploring the critical points of the war through the people, objects and perspectives of that time, which might serve as inspiring lessons for today.

鴉片戰爭揭開中國近代史的序幕，隨着南京條約的簽訂，滿清政府墮入不斷戰敗及喪權辱國的深淵，至最後覆亡。外夷船堅砲利一向是解釋滿清戰敗的普遍說法，但英軍在鴉片戰爭中是如何「船堅砲利」，當中的細節卻是出人意表。本講座聚焦於1840年代的書籍、畫作及勳章，透過當時的人、物和觀點，重新探索戰爭勝負的關鍵，並對今天的啟示。

Speaker

Kwok King Cheung Bassanio is a researcher and a seasoned collector of Chinese Orders and Medals of the late Manchu and early Republican periods, some of which were exhibited in the “Beiyang Warlords: War and Politics” exhibition at the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum. A long-standing member of the HKU Museum Society, he has presented talks at the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum and the University Museum and Art Gallery, HKU –  “More about the Orders and Medals of the Beiyang Warlords”, “The Social Physiognomy of China around May Fourth Movement as shown in the Medals and Publications concerning the Governing of Shanxi by ‘Model’ Warlord Yan Xi-shan” and “Dr. Sun Yat-sen and Cheng Bi-guang: Unrest in Guangdong during the Early Republican Period and the Movement for the Protection of the Constitution”.

講者簡介

郭競翔，清末及民初勳章研究者，收藏經驗過三十年，曾於孫中山紀念館及香港大學美術博物館主講的講座有＜北洋軍閥勳章沿革趣談＞、＜五四前後的中國社會風貌趣談：由山西「模範」軍閥閻錫山的勳章及治晉著述說起＞及＜孫中山與程璧光︰民初廣東亂局及護法運動＞。

   

The HKU Museum Society is pleased to organize a guided viewing of Enduring Strength and Passion: The Chinese and Western Art of Ting Yin Yung, a retrospective of Master Ting’s multifaceted work in commemoration of his 120th anniversary, presented with support from the HKUMS 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund. The tour will be guided by Dr Sarah Ng, Curator of this exhibition.

A native of Maoming county in Guangdong province, Ting Yin Yung (1902–1978) studied Western painting in Tokyo at the Kawabata Painting School in 1920, and at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. He returned to Mainland China in 1925 and emigrated to Hong Kong in 1949, where he developed his artistic practice as a painter, seal carver and greatly admired teacher.

Ting’s painterly styles vary widely, as he worked in both oil and ink. He excelled at figure paintings, and his landscape paintings and still lifes were stylistically influenced by both European Modernism and Chinese ink paintings. He consistently aimed to reconcile the techniques and characteristics of Western and Eastern approaches.

Originally trained in Western methods, Ting became increasingly interested in Chinese ink painting. A great admirer of Ming and Qing dynasty paintings, Ting’s artistic style is noteworthy for its simplicity, which is indicative of a departure from his predecessors’ realistic representations. His use of line, void and space exemplifies his contribution to the formulation of a modern Chinese style that was in part informed by his study of ancient oracle bone scripts, and also emerged in parallel with his oil paintings beginning in the 1960s. Master Ting was equally known for his use of personal seals that illustrate an abstract language of their own and established Ting as a prolific and distinctive seal carver.

 

Speaker

Dr. Sarah Ng is a historian of visual arts and material culture specializing in late imperial Chinese painting, calligraphy and ink rubbings. She is the curator of the Hong Kong University Museum & Art Gallery (UMAG). The relationship and reinterpretation of the Chinese tradition in contemporary art practice is her primary area of scholarly interest. Her work also addresses collecting, connoisseurship, canon formation, workshop practices, art conservation, museum studies and bookplates. She lectures on these subjects and other areas of expertise internationally.

 

Image: Sai Kung Seaside, Courtesy of UMAG

Upon popular request, the HKU Museum Society is pleased to organize a second guided heritage tour to Sha Tau Kok 沙頭角 curated by Jerry Yeung, Director of a specialized tour company.

Our tour starts from Central where we’ll board a private mini coach. The first stop is to hike to Ma Tso Lung 馬草壟 viewpoint that offers an amazing view of the wetlands and Shenzhen skyline. We will then continue our journey to Sha Tau Kok and Northeast to visit Kang Yung Study Hall 鏡蓉書屋 (a 200+ year old declared monument), Cheung Shan Monastery 長山古寺 built during the Qianlong’s reign 乾隆 (1789), exterior of Fat Tat Tong 發達堂 (a traditional Hakka residence), the historic Hung Ling Station 孔嶺站 (a Grade III historic building by the Antiquities and Monuments Office 香港三級歷史建築), and Fanling Wai 粉嶺圍 (a historic walled hamlet). We will wrap up this tour with a Hakka cuisine lunch and personal time to stroll through the town before returning to Central.

Highlights of Sha Tau Kok

(Note: We’ll NOT be visiting this area of Sha Tau Kok that requires a Closed Area Permit. The information below is for your reference only.)

Situated in Hong Kong’s North District, Sha Tau Kok 沙頭角 is the last remaining major settlement in the Frontier Closed Area 香港邊境禁區 since 1951. Until recently, a visitor will need a permit and a guarantee from a local resident to enter this border town. Most of its residents are from Hakka 客家 farming or Hoklo (Hokkien) 福建fishing backgrounds. However, both farming and fishing have declined in the past few decades, with the better educated younger people moving to live and work in urban areas. 

During Britain’s lease of the New Territories (1898), and again after the Chinese Communist Revolution (1945 – 1949), the town gained political relevance due to its strategic location. Sha Tau Kok Control Point 沙頭角管制站is one of Hong Kong’s land border crossing points and the famous Chung Ying Street中英街serves as a section of the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen 深圳 on the Chinese side.  A museum was built on this street to celebrate the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong. It has on display a history of Chung Ying Street and its place in the incorporation as a territory of British Hong Kong at the end of the 19th century. 

The terminus of Sha Tau Kok Branch Line of Kowloon-Canton Railway, built over 100 years ago, is a testimony to the economic hub that Sha Tau Kok once was. The railway ceased to operate in 1928 and was replaced by Sha Tau Kok Road 沙頭角公路.  On this tour, we will follow its track and take a mini coach to discover the interesting Donghe Hui Hakka culture 東和墟客家文化.

 

Photo credit: Travel Tailor

The HKU Museum Society is pleased to invite Ms Lee Meiyin to present a lecture on the Palace Museum (also known as the Forbidden City).  The lecture will cover the magnificent architectural structures, layout, orientations and its imperial collection. The evacuation of its collection shortly before the outbreak of World War II. Ms Lee will also highlight some of the artefacts currently on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum

《故宮文化》講座

李美賢老師著意協助我們加深理解北京故宮和香港故宮文化博物館展品的文化內涵，特別為香港大學博物舘學會進行一次故宮文化專題講座，內容大綱如下:

– 北京紫禁城宮殿簡介

– 抗戰時期故宮文物南遷

– 香港故宮文化博物館展品簡介

 

Speaker

Ms. Lee Meiyin’s areas of research include the history, art and costumes of the ethnic minorities of China, Buddhist art, Dunhuang art, silk and embroideries. She previously served as HKUSPACE guest lecturer (2000-2010), as well as a member of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee. She is currently a specially appointed research fellow of Dunhuang Academy, a visiting associate professor of the Chu Hai College, and a Vice President of the Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong). She also serves on the Board of Dunhuang Grottoes Preservation and Research Foundation of China, and as an expert advisor to the public museums of Hong Kong.

李美賢女士的研究範圍包括中國少數民族（民族史與服飾）、佛像藝術、敦煌藝術、絲綢與刺繡（歷史與賞析）。曾任香港大學專業進修學院導師（2000-2010），香港非物質文化遺產諮詢委員會委員。現任敦煌研究院特聘研究員、香港敦煌之友副主席，也是中國敦煌石窟保護研究基金會理事、香港博物館之專家顧問。

Founded in 1936 as a humble street side dai pai dong, Yung Kee has become an incomparable legacy among historic Hong Kong restaurants. This heritage brand grew into one of the city’s premier Cantonese restaurants with a loyal customer base spanning generations. Recently, this first Chinese restaurant to ever receive international acclaim (one star in the Michelin Guide) has undergone a major renovation at its iconic location in Central. 

We are pleased to organise a special evening with a guided tour, talk and dinner with project architect William Lim.  William will be joined by renowned HK designer Stanley Wong (anothermountainman).  Together, they will share insights about the design concepts and the stylistic changes that are synonymous with Yung Kee’s evolution in refining its culinary culture while preserving its heritage, combining tradition with modernity

Speakers

William Lim, Founder and Managing Director of CL3 Architects Ltd. (CL3), brings over 20 years of experience to his projects. An acclaimed architect and artist, William graduated from Cornell University and has spent the past two decades at the forefront of architecture, culture and art. Since founding CL3 in 1992, William has established a notable presence on the global design scene. The studio’s diverse, award-winning portfolio includes architectural and interior projects for hotels, restaurants, retail, corporate, residences and art installation design. His recent local renovation and architectural projects include Yung Kee Restaurant, H Queen’s and M+ Lounge.

Stanley Wong, also known as “anothermountainman,” is a Hong Kong artist, photographer, and designer best known for his Red White Blue series, a series of artworks based on the shopping bags commonly used in Hong Kong and presented at the 51st Venice Biennale in 2005. His photography series “Lanwei” was collected by M+ Museum.

The HKU Museum Society is pleased to present a guided heritage tour to Sha Tau Kok curated by Jerry Yeung, Director of a specialized tour company.

Our tour starts from Central where we’ll board a private mini coach. The first stop is to hike to Ma Tso Lung 馬草壟 viewpoint that offers an amazing view of the wetlands and Shenzhen skyline. We will then continue our journey to Sha Tau Kok and the Northeast to visit Kang Yung Study Hall 鏡蓉書屋 (a 200+ year old declared monument), Cheung Shan Monastery 長山古寺 built during the Qianlong’s reign 乾隆 (1789), exterior of Fat Tat Tong 發達堂 (a traditional Hakka residence), the historic Hung Ling Station 孔嶺站 (a Grade III historic building by the Antiquities and Monuments Office 香港三級歷史建築), and Fanling Wai 粉嶺圍 (a historic walled hamlet). We will wrap up this tour with a Hakka cuisine lunch and personal time to stroll through the town before returning to Central.

 

Highlights of Sha Tau Kok

(Note: We’ll NOT be visiting area of Sha Tau Kok that requires a Closed Area Permit. The information below is for your reference only.)

Situated in Hong Kong’s North District, Sha Tau Kok 沙頭角 is the last remaining major settlement in the Frontier Closed Area 香港邊境禁區 since 1951. Until recently, a visitor will need a permit and a guarantee from a local resident to enter this border town. Most of its residents are from Hakka 客家 farming or Hoklo (Hokkien) 福建fishing backgrounds. However, both farming and fishing have declined in the past few decades, with the better educated younger people moving to live and work in urban areas. 

During Britain’s lease of the New Territories (1898), and again after the Chinese Communist Revolution (1945 – 1949), the town gained political relevance due to its strategic location. Sha Tau Kok Control Point 沙頭角管制站is one of Hong Kong’s land border crossing points and the famous Chung Ying Street serves as a section of the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen 深圳 on the Chinese side.  A museum was built on this street to celebrate the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong. It has on display a history of Chung Ying Street and its place in the incorporation as a territory of British Hong Kong at the end of the 19th century. 

The terminus of Sha Tau Kok Branch Line of Kowloon-Canton Railway, built over 100 years ago, is a testimony to the economic hub that Sha Tau Kok once was. The railway ceased to operate in 1928 and was replaced by Sha Tau Kok Road 沙頭角公路.  On this tour, we will follow its track and take a mini coach to discover the interesting Donghe Hui Hakka culture 東和墟客家文化.

Photo credit: Travel Tailor

The HKU Museum Society is pleased to present a guided tour of the latest exhibition at “Form Society”, an independent art space in Sham Shui Po. The founder, Mr Wong Tin Yan, will talk about the exhibition and share his experience running an independent art space. Tai Nan Street in Sham Shui Po has become the stomping ground for many hipsters in recent years. After visiting his art space, Wong will tell us about the changes in the Sham Shui Po neighbourhood by walking around Tai Nan Street.

 

Form Society

Artist Wong Tin Yan founded Form Society hoping to bring the community closer together. The 1,300 sq ft space is split into five main areas, including a collaboration space and a multipurpose exhibition area. This creative space also hosts regular guest speaker sessions, workshops and pop-up events — all open to the public — so be sure to check ahead to see what they have coming up.

 

About Wong Tin Yan

Wong Tin Yan is a Hong Kong sculptor who mainly uses discarded wood. Besides, he was an art educator and columnist & has been a TV program presenter. He was also the founder of an alternative art space, “Form Society”, at Sham Shui Po Tai Nan Street starting in 2017. Moreover, he had invited by the M+ education department for the “M+ Rover” project in 2019-2021.

The HKU Museum Society is pleased to present a museum visit of Dunhuang: Enchanting Takes for Millennium” with Lee Meiyin.

This exhibition will showcase 50 exhibits, including artefacts, reproductions of silk paintings, and a replica cave spanning over 1 000 years from the Northern Wei period to the Ming dynasty. In addition, over 100 murals are highlighted from more than 60 Dunhuang Caves, featuring a multitude of themes and artistic styles that traverse dynasties and geographical regions. Visitors are invited to a feast of visual splendour with a series of art-tech display and multi-media programmes to experience and appreciate the worldly and heavenly aspirations of ancient forebears in their pursuit of the true, the good and the beautiful in the Buddhism realm of Dunhuang.

This exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Dunhuang Academy, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Dunhuang Academy. Exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and supported by Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong).

 

About Lee Meiyin

Ms. Lee Meiyin’s areas of research include the history, art and costumes of the ethnic minorities of China, Buddhist art, Dunhuang art, silk and embroideries. She previously served as HKUSPACE guest lecturer (2000-2010), as well as a member of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee. She is currently a specially appointed research fellow of Dunhuang Academy, a visiting associate professor of the Chu Hai College, and a Vice President of the Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong). She also serves on the Board of Dunhuang Grottoes Preservation and Research Foundation of China, and as an expert advisor to the public museums of Hong Kong.

 

More information about the exhibition can be found here:

https://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid272.html#/nogo

 

Images:

Illustration of Amitayus-mindfulness Sutra, South wall of Mogao Cave 172, High Tang dynasty. Courtesy of Dunhuang Academy

 

 

The vibrations of Tibetan singing bowls are believed to resonate with our bodies and minds, stimulating our circulation and creating a therapeutic effect. The HKU Museum Society is pleased to present a joint UMAG programme: Tibetan Singing Bowl Experience.

To complement the exhibition Eternal Transience, Enlightened Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art, UMAG is offering a singing bowl experience in the gallery. Participants will have the opportunity to shed some stress and achieve a balanced state of mind through the power of sound therapy, while also taking in the exhibition.

In this hour-long musical journey, the instructor will introduce the singing bowl and gong and the roles of these instruments in sound therapy.

 

Instructor

Brenda Pang has been teaching Kundalini yoga for 10 years. Studied under the world-renowned gong master Don Conreaux, she has participated in hundreds of gong bath and Tibetan singing bowl concerts. Audiences describe her sound bath meditation releases a soft, balanced elevating tone that provides an exquisite harmonisation with the atmosphere. She also received Yoga of Holistic Resonance Gong Master Training Level 1 certificate.

The HKU Museum Society is pleased to organize a viewing of two exhibitions at UMAG, presented with support from the HKUMS 30^th Anniversary Endowment Fund. The first exhibition is “Blown and Tooled: Western Asian Influences in Ancient Glass in China” with Harald Peter Kraemer, Curator at UMAG. The second exhibition is “Eternal Transience, Enlightened Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art” with Walter Chan, Research Assistant at UMAG.

 

Blown and Tooled: Western Asian Influences in Ancient Glass in China

Harald Peter Kraemer will guide us through this exhibition of early glass vessels that display technological and stylistic influences from countries along the Silk Road. The international transfer of manufacturing practices, object types and design features make this particular collection of glassware a fascinating subject of study, as the knowledge transfer and trade along the Silk Road since the first millennium CE complicates the artefact’s origins and cultural influences. Interestingly, this fine and fragile artform has been treasured for centuries and excavated objects from tomb sites often include both imported and Chinese items.

 

Eternal Transience, Enlightened Wisdom: Masterpieces of Buddhist Art

Walter Chan will guide us through this exhibition of more than 30 artworks from Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan and Mongolia. Dating from the 7^th – 18^th century, the exhibition is composed primarily of bronze statues and thangkas of deities and gurus in Tibetan Buddhism. As part of Buddhism’s eternal journey from India to the Himalayas, China and Japan, the religious icons and objects of daily religious practice remain a testament to the shifting cultures that have engaged with Buddhism over the millennia. Acknowledging such a state of transience through the current exhibition highlights the enlightened wisdom of the Buddha; the ability to behold the true nature of the world. This public display has been assembled to complement HKU’s international symposium Giuseppe Tucci, his adventurous life, and his scholarly legacy, presented in memory of the renowned Tibetologist on 5 August 2022.

 

Image: Courtesy of UMAG

Ewer, Mould-blown and applied glass, Roman Empire (4^th century CE) or China (Tang dynasty (618-906) or Liao dynasty (907-1125))

Thangka of Avalokiteshvara and two offering goddesses, Pigment and gold on cloth, Western Tibet, 15^th century