Archives: Activity

In conjunction with the Museum Society's two cultural tours to Turkey this spring, we have invited Fatih Dikmen to come from Istanbul to present a talk on the cultural and historical treasures of Turkey. This event will begin with a light buffet of dimsum appetizers.

In addition, we have invited art consultant and historian, Catherine Maudsley, to give a brief commentary on 'Rumi's Search for the Beloved'. Catherine, whose formal training in the study of religion included aspects of Sufism, will speak about Celaleddin Rumi's spiritual journey and awakening as a Sufi and how this 13th century poet and mystic's compassion and love for all beings is relevant to our modern world. Her talk will start at 6? pm.

Catherine Maudsley, whose formal training in the study of religion included aspects of Sufism, will speak about Celaleddin Rumi's spiritual journey and awakening as a Sufi, and how the 13th century poet and mystic's compassion and love for all beings is relevant to our modern world. According to Rumi, music helped devotees to focus their whole being on the Divine. He believed passionately in music, poetry and dance as a path for reaching God. It was from these ideas that the practice of "whirling" dervishes developed into a ritual form. In 1273, a Sufi order known as the Whirling Dervishes, or the Mevlevi Order, was founded by Rumi's followers in Konya, Turkey. Each year, December 17 is celebrated as Rumi's "Wedding Day" in Konya to honour his passage from this world and the consummation of his divine love. Rumi, whose path to God was through divine love, is unquestionably Islam's greatest ambassador of peace today.

Based in Hong Kong, Catherine Maudsley is a renowned consultant and writer who teaches and lectures on Asian art. The recipient of numerous scholarly awards and research fellowships, Catherine has been a guest lecturer to over 30 organizations, including Sotheby's Institute of Arts as well as global forums. She was educated in Canada, the USA, Beijing, Hong Kong and Kyoto and holds MA and MPhil degrees in fine arts and religion.

A bridge between Asia and Europe, Turkey is one of the great cradles of ancient civilization with intriguing layers of history and culture, art and architecture, ancient ruins and ornate palaces. Fatih Dikmen comes from Istanbul to present the cultural and historical treasures of Turkey – from the famous archaeological sites of Ephesus, Pergamum and Aphrodisias to the traditions and religious customs of the great Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The breathtaking scenery and haunting landscapes of Pamukkale, Goreme and Cappadocia deserve special mention, as well as the unique architecture of the Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches, the fabulous mosques and the treasures housed in the palaces and museums in Istanbul.

Fatih Dikmen graduated with a BSc degree in Tourism Management from Dokuz Eylül University of Izmir and an MA degree in Sustainable Tourism from the University Of Savoie, France. He specializes in leading archaeological tours from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Asia and in giving lectures, at home and abroad, on the history, language, culture, cuisine, flora and fauna of Turkey. Fatih Dikmen is a professional tour consultant registered with Turkey's Ministry of Culture.

Despite the fact that glass had made its first appearance in China around the Zhou period in the 10th century BC, it had been used all along as a cheap substitute for jade until the Qing Dynasty in the early 18th century, when glass developed into an individual art form and enjoyed imperial patronage. Throughout the three high Qing reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, an enormous quantity of glass objects was produced with high standard at the glasshouse of the Imperial Household Workshop in Beijing under the supervision of the Jesuit missionaries. Glass manufacturing in China reached a pinnacle then. In this lecture, Andrew Lee King Fun (???) will give a comprehensive survey on the aesthetic appreciation of the types, forms and decorative techniques of glass, using the illustrations from his exquisite collection of Qing imperial glasses that dates from the 17th to the 20th century.

Speaker:
Former Chairman of the prestigious Min Chiu Society, Honorary Fellow and Director of The University of Hong Kong Foundation and renowned architect, Andrew Lee King Fun comes from a family in the glass manufacturing business. His important collection of glassware was exhibited at the Chinese University Art Museum in 2000, accompanied by an authoritative, scholarly catalogue entitled "Elegance and Radiance: Grandeur in Qing Glass, the Andrew K.F. Lee Collection".

Synopsis:
By studying women's costumes, accessories and cosmetics from a bygone era, this lecture presentation will trace and shed light on the origins of some common Chinese idiomatic expressions and terms in the areas surrounding the lives of women and marriage customs.

Speaker:
A graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lee Mei-yin (李美賢) has done in-depth research on Chinese ethnic culture, Buddhist art and Chinese embroidery for many years. Currently, she is an advisor to the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture and a teaching faculty at the University of Hong Kong, School of Professional and Continuing Education.

This activity will include two one-hour lectures with double-screen slide presentation of items from the speaker's private collection. Members of the Executive Committee will also prepare home-baked goods to be served during the coffee/tea break.

講座簡介‭:
你知道「弄瓦之喜」、「千頭萬緒」、「絲絲入扣」這些用語的來源及它們與絲織的關係嗎？

我們為什麼稱未嫁的女子為「待字閨中」？在古代婚儀中、「合巹交杯」、「結髮夫妻」、「三朝回門」等用語或習俗的來歷是怎樣的？

古代女子的化艜比現在更開放還是更保守？胭脂、鉛華、戒指的來源又是什麼？

在我們日常生活中，無論詞語、成語和用語均有其來源。本講座將圍繞著衣、飾、化艜、食、住 等各方面，以出土文物及文獻來探討各種事物的來源。(講座中輔以實物作介紹)

講者簡介:
李美賢︰畢業於香港中文大學，從事中國少數民族「民族史與服飾」研究，中國文化教育及推廣工作二十多年。近年研究範圍包括佛教藝術「佛教雕塑」、敦煌、絲綢與刺繡賞析等。現任香港中華文化促進中心之學術顧問「民族文化」，和香港大學專業進修學院之導師。‭ ‬

此講座分為兩個一小時的講解，並輔以雙銀幕放映寶貴資料。中段有半小時茶點招待，勿失良機。

Japanese culinary artist, Keiko Sakurai is both the proprietor and teacher of "Luscious Delicious", a Japanese cooking school located in Wanchai. She is also a cookbook writer, food columnist, nutritionist and food stylist. Having lived in Hong Kong for many years, she has gained fluency in both the spoken and written Chinese language. With a passion for cooking, she has immersed herself in the local culinary culture and has also travelled extensively around the world to master the artistry of regional cuisine.

At this afternoon workshop, Keiko Sakurai will prepare and demonstrate a unique range of stylish and delicious "Japanese delicacies" – a feast for the eyes and tastebuds. Do come and enjoy an afternoon of Japanese food and culture with this special culinary artist.

This talk explores the types of imagery found in late Burmese murals and links the way in which they were depicted with contemporary religious and social trends. Through the standardized organization of the three sets of canonical stories, the murals express a number of different concepts, particularly the importance of hierarchy, kingship and the merit path to enlightenment (nirvana) to Burmese contemporary society, while the magical and protective imagery indicates the inclusiveness of Burmese Buddhism.

Speaker Dr. Alexandra Green has an M.A. and Ph.D. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Prior to taking up her appointment as Research Assistant Professor at HKU, Dr. Green was Curator of Asian Art and Museum Director at the Denison Museum, Denison University, Granville, Ohio. Her catalogue of Burmese art at Denison, entitled "Eclectic Collecting: Art from Burma in the Denison Museum", was published in June 2008 by NUS Press. Further publications include "Burma: Art and Archaeology" produced by the British Museum Press in 2002. She has also lectured on Southeast Asian Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies and was Curator of the Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, UK.

Does the hat which Audrey Hepburn wore in the movie "My Fair Lady" fascinate you? Headdresses of different periods through history and from diverse cultures come in all styles and materials. Hats have truly become an artistic fashion accessory in its own right.

"Hats are my passionŠand the more glamorous and ostentatious they are, the more interesting it is to look at the persons wearing them. My hands enable me to construct very detailed and flamboyant pieces for my clients, creating just the right impact they are looking forŦquot; Jay Cheng, the first and only milliner in Hong Kong, was trained in millinery at the London College of Fashion and also under royal milliner Rosy Corey. Her hats and hair pieces include casual fun hats, wedding hair pieces and glamorous stage headdresses. Her creations not only combine interesting fabrics but also show the great taste, skill, love and care that she puts in her work.

During our visit, Jay will give a brief history of hats around the globe and will also show us what it takes to design a hat that is aesthetic, functional, and which can make that perfect fashion statement!

Due to popular demand, we have decided to organize another adventurous dinner, this time at Dai Wing Wah Restaurant. Leung Man Tou (梁文韜) is the managing director of Dai Wing Wah Restaurant. He is like a walking Chinese culinary encyclopedia. Having written many books on food, he has been invited to lead gourmet tours to various countries in Asia. Raised in a Cantonese family in the seafood business, he started as an apprentice chef at the age of 19; now, he has over 40 years of cooking experience under his belt. The famous Dah Wing Wah Restaurant chain has recently branched out from its Yuen Long main location into the spacious new Kowloon Bay branch.

The food is mainly Cantonese provincial with a touch of fusion. Signature dishes are Five Flavors Chicken, Rice Fed Duck, Salty Dried Lemon Steamed Fish, Supreme Soya Sauce Prawn, Long Boiled Soup, Steamed Sponge Cake and a list of others.

For the foodies and for those looking for a change from the urban restaurant fare, this will be a pleasurable evening.

Originally built to house the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, construction of the Legislative Council Building started in 1900 and it was officially opened in 1912. After the relocation of the Supreme Court in 1978 and some internal conversion works, it was declared an historical building in 1984 under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance. In 1985, it became the Legislative Council Building.

During our visit, we will be given an introduction of the workings of the Council as well as a tour of the different facilities and highlights of the architectural features of this landmark building. We shall also meet Pauline Ng, Secretary General of the Legislative Council Secretariat, who is responsible for overseeing the support services of the Legislative Council. She also advises the President of the Legislative Council on all procedural and administrative matters. Pauline joined the LegCo Secretariat in 1994 after having worked in the Government for 20 years.

In 1999, Pauline received the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service. She is currently the President of the Zonta Club of Hong Kong, Honorary Advisor to the Hong Kong Quality Management Association, Projects Director of the Action for Vision Eye Foundation, Director of the Project Vision Foundation and member of a number of charitable trusts. In her spare time, she is an accomplished painter and is also an art enthusiast.

The Museum Society has organized a number of popular trips to exotic destinations in the past. Many participants have shown keen interest in photography. Seeing their enthusiasm, we have invited professional photographer Bobby Lee to give a talk and share his views on how to take more artistic pictures while on tours. Using visual illustrations, Bobby will first show us how to improve photography in general. Then, he will give suggestions to solve specific problems, such as taking photos in caves with dim lights and in museums with glass reflections, or on roads with moving targets. Do bring along your cameras, equipments and trouble pictures, and feel free to ask him during the Q&A session after his talk.

Bobby Lee, founder of Bobby Lee Photography Limited, works with major 4A advertising companies. His corporate clients include Cathy Pacific Airways, CLP, Hong Kong Electric, Town Gas, Hang Seng Bank, Sun Hung Kai Properties etc. A recipient of various international awards, Bobby is also a philanthropist contributing to Save the Children HK, Helping Hands and other worthwhile projects.

Let’s learn to capture better moments together.