Category: Overseas

The University of Hong Kong Museum Society presents a weekend in Taichung, a city with a profound cultural heritage. The highlight of this tour features Toyo Ito’s “great” creation, the National Taichung Theatre. Coinciding with this visit to the world class performance space, we are pleased to present an avant-garde international performance of an opera “Die Walküre” by Wagner.

Members will enjoy three art viewings specially organized by art collector Mr. Leo Shih – an important exhibition of Zao Wou-ki’s paintings at the Asia Museum of Modern Art, an exhibition of contemporary Japanese artist Suda Yoshihiro’s works at the Yu-Hsiu Museum of Art, and a home visit to Shih’s private art collection.

To savour the art of gastronomy, we will dine at the internationally recognized Le Moût Restaurant located at the heart of the city. In between, we will explore different restaurants that offer unique taste of Taiwanese cuisine.

HKU Museum Society is delighted to present a fundraising trip for our 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund.

This tour has been tailored for The University of Hong Kong Museum Society, a private and exclusive journey for an unforgettable experience.

Participants will start their journey in Venice to attend the 57th edition of the Biennale and to discover the hidden gems of the lagoon and the traditions of Venice and its canals.

After a few days in the magic of Venice, guests will visit the surroundings of the Veneto region, having the theme Palladio and his majestic influence on the art and architecture of the region in the 16th century.

HKU Museum Society is delighted to present a fundraising trip for our 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund.

“By invitation only”, our members will be given access to legendary collector Mr. Ise’s private museum that is normally closed to the public. During our stay in central Japan, we will embrace various aspects of Japanese traditional arts and crafts through special visits to see exclusive art studios in Iwase Artist Village supported by Mr. Masuda, owner of a gold medal awarded local sake brewery, as well as a patron of local artists creating lacquer ware, wood carving, metal engraving and etc. Our tour will consist of many cultural activities, including sake tasting in Toyama and Ukai (cormorants fishing) viewing in Gifu. In addition, we will also explore the national treasure Hikone Castle and stay at the traditional onsen hotels for hot spring spa and kaiseki dinning.

The little-explored, but extremely picturesque, region of northern Portugal offers many hidden gems outside traditional tourist destinations. Here, through a unique conjunction of Anglo-Portuguese cooperation, nestled amongst the hills and valleys of the country’s most fertile landscape, are the quintas, or vineyards, of the Portuguese nobility, at the heart of which are a unique series of historic manor houses which rarely open their doors to the public.
This exclusive tour has been especially compiled not only to provide a rare opportunity to see the remarkable interiors of these private homes, but also to explore the historic context of their evolution.

Resource Person : Michael Borozdin-Bidnell
Graduating in the 1970s, Michael Borozdin-Bidnell spent many years as a London-based interior des igner, working internationally as a Senior Partner and travel ling extensively in Europe, America and both the near and far East.
Becoming a Master of Science in the mid- 1990s, he joined the Georgian Group, the UK national amenity society, a charitable organization established in 1937 to campaign to protect eighteenth and early nineteenth century buildings in England, as Head of Research and Information. Since then he has written and lectured extensively, both in the UK and overseas, as an architectural historian and has led overseas cultural tours in Europe for the past nine years. He is currently in the final year of a Doctorate in Architectural History.

The first people to settle in Mexico came from Asia around ten millennia ago. Ancient civilizations which inhabited this region excelled in art, architecture, mathematics and astronomy. Arriving by sea in 1519, the Spaniards destroyed the pre-Colombian population and established the colony of New Spain. Napoleon’s invasion and occupation of Spain in 1808 led to the outbreak of revolts across the New World. The Mexican revolution in 1810 marked the beginning of a long struggle against the Spanish that ended 300 years of colonial rule. When the War of Independence ended in 1821, the republican insurgents established the first Mexican Republic and started to cultivate a unique Mexican identity as a mestizo nation incorporating the cultural traditions of the indigenous with those of European ancestry. Once regarded by many as a Third World nation, Mexico today, with a population of over 122 million, is the 11th largest economy in the world. Mexico City has a cosmopolitan vibe that extends from its thriving contemporary art scene to trendy restaurants and designer boutiques. It is one of the most important economic hubs in Latin America.

Mexico’s geographic and cultural diversity makes it a fascinating country — from the charming colonial towns of Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende in the central highlands to Mesoamerican ruins located in tropical rainforests, from Baroque Catholic churches to sacred Olmec, Aztec and Maya temples; from fortified towns on the Yucatan Peninsula to archaeological sites on the Caribbean coast; from the art and architecture of ancient civilizations to world-class museums in the vibrant capital, Mexico City.

This tour will take us through visually stunning landscapes and locations across Mexico — in cities and villages, on mountains and rivers, in tropical jungle and white powder beaches. Nothing reveals the soul of a people more than their culture. Journey to Mexico to experience the cuisine, tequila, music, dance, art and traditions of this amazing country!

Han 漢 (206 BC – 220 AD) and Tang 唐 (618 – 907 AD) are the two dynasties during which China had frequent communications with the West, through both the Silk Road and maritime trade. Ever since, Han 漢 and Tang 唐 culture has exerted tremendous influence worldwide in various realms. Nowadays, the Chinese language is known as han yu 漢語, Han language, and Chinese people tang ren 唐人, Tang people.

The idea of this trip is initiated by visiting the two old capitals of Luoyang 洛陽 and Xi’an 西安, with an expectation to indulge in the Han 漢 and Tang 唐 culture. But then, with many more interesting sites coming to mind, Zhengzhou 鄭州 is finally included as the starting city. All in all, we will visit seven museums with Henan Museum 河南博物院 and the Shaanxi History Museum 陝西歷史博物館 being provincial museums, while Luoyang Museum 洛陽博物館 a city museum, including two on-site museums. We will examine numerous relics from these ancient cultures with a focus on the ceramics of Han 漢 and Tang 唐 dynasties.

The main ceramic products for the Han and Tang dynasty are burial pottery models. Among the huge number of pottery models in numerous shapes of buildings, figurines, animals, vessels etc., the most impressive are Han models of houses or house compounds and watchtowers, and Tang models of horses, camels, exotic merchants, ladies and officials. We will have in-depth discussions on the technical achievements of ceramics of the Han and Tang potters in modeling 陶塑, lead glazing 鉛釉 and in particular Tang sancai 唐三彩, three-colour ware.

From high-fired green ware 青瓷 in the Han dynasty to the Xing ware 邢窰 and Yue ware 越窰 in the Tang dynasty, the esteemed position of high-fired ceramics in daily life of the Chinese was affirmed. Besides, Tongguan ware 銅官窰 and Tang Jun ware 唐鈞 etc. will also be discussed, demonstrating the worldwide cultural exchanges as well as the pioneering ceramic industry during the Han and Tang dynasty.

Beyond ceramics, we will also ascend ancient buildings, have an overview of the Yellow River 黃河, and roam the market streets where in the old days the Muslims engaged in doing business. And hopefully, we will see the famous and beautiful peonies of Luoyang 洛陽牡丹.

Resource Person
Ms. Lai Suk-yee (黎淑儀女士) is a Research Consultant of The Hong Kong Ceramics Research Society, and a Museum Expert Adviser to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong Government. She is also a Researcher of The Research Institute of Ceramics (Zisha) Culture at Yixing. Suk Yee retired from her museum career in August 2015. Formerly, she was an Assistant Curator and then a Researcher at the Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her academic research has been concentrated on Chinese ceramics, for more than 30 years, with focuses on Zhejiang Yue ware and Longquan ware of the Tang to Song dynasties, Yixing stoneware and Jingdezhen porcelain of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and Hong Kong enamel-painted porcelain of the twentieth century.

Welcome to the land of hillside fairytale castles and noble fields of wine producing grapes! It is no wonder why this dramatic landscape along the legendary Rhine is titled the “Romantic Rhine Valley”. Recognizing the rich cultural and historic heritage of this region, UNESCO in 2002 aptly designated this 65 kilometers stretch of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley as a World Heritage Site.

Tucked away in the far northeast corner of France, Alsace proudly showcases its own distinct identity – part German and part French, the result of having switched back and forth between German and French sovereignty over the centuries. “Gemütlich”, a Germanic expression denoting warmth and cosiness, fittingly describes the homely feeling found within the exquisitely preserved medieval towns lining the 170 kilometers of the celebrated “Routes des Vins d Álsace”.

The University of Hong Kong Museum Society is pleased to present its fifth gastronomic wine tour, as part of its wine tour series. This time we will explore the popular wine regions of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and Alsace. Together with internationally renowned food and wine connoisseur, wine judge and educator, Mr. Wilson Kwok, we will visit key Rhine Valley producers such as Schloss Johannisberg, Kloster Eberbach, and Weingut S.A. Prüm, along with important Alsatian wineries such as Domaine Schlumberger, Hugel and Domaine Weinbach.

Our gastronomic adventure will showcase local specialties in Michelin starred establishments such as Weingut Kruger – Rumpf (1 star), Le Rosenmeer (1 star), L’Auberge de L’Ill (3 stars) as well as in the more intimate surroundings within the private homes of local wine experts. At each stop, we will learn to pair the particular wines of the region with Wilson’s carefully selected menus.

*Visits to specific wineries are subject to final confirmation

Wilson Kwok, Wine Specialist
WILSON KWOK has one of the most impressive resumes in the food and wine industry in Hong Kong. Holding a Master’s Degree of Enology at the University of Bordeaux, France as well as a Grand Diploma from the Cordon Bleu de Paris, in France, he was knighted by the French Government as Chevalier de L’Ordre du Merite Agricole for his outstanding contribution to French cuisine and wine. He has served actively as a judge in wine competitions since 1994. In 1996 he became the first in Asia to be invited to be a Member of the Jury for the prestigious wine competition, the Citadelles du Vin which is held in Bordeaux every year. In 2000 he won the Sommelier of the Year in Hong Kong on Australia Wines.
As managing director of the W’s Group, Wilson oversees also the running of his flagship restaurant, W’s Entrecote. He has published a number of cookbooks (bilingual Chinese and English) as well as contributed columns to a number of monthly journals including “Wine Now” Monthly Magazine (Chinese) as well as in the South China Morning Post. Wilson advised as well as co-hosted TVB Jade’s 6 episode series, “Wine Confidential”. More recently in October 2010, Wilson released in his own voice the first volume of an audio set of four wine glossary references spoken in six languages.

Wilson has taken members of the HKUMS to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Tuscany and Piedmont since 2010.

The University of Hong Kong Museum Society is pleased to present a tour of Japan from 7th to 15th May, 2016, with Dr. Puay-peng Ho, Professor of Architecture of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Prof. Puay-peng Ho received his First Class Honours degree in Architecture from the University of Edinburgh and a Ph.D. in Art History from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His thesis was focused on Buddhist art and architecture of the Tang dynasty. Prof. Ho is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Society of Architectural Historians. Currently, he serves on Town Planning Board, Antiquities Advisory Board and History Museum Advisory Panel, and is Chairman of the Council of Lord Wilson Heritage Trust. His research interests and publications are in the areas of Chinese art and architectural history, vernacular architecture, and architectural theory. He is also involved in many architecture conservation projects in Hong Kong.

The far north of Japan was the native land of the Emishi 蝦夷 people, descendants of the Jōmon 繩文. Largely a land of abundance with a central mountain range Ōu Mountains 奥羽山脈, it was conquered by the Yamato 大和regime from Central Japan and included in the territory of Japan after some bloody battles between 7th – 9th centuries. Since then, feudal lords ruled over the land with two main provinces: Ōshū 奥州 or Michinoku 陸奥 or 道奥, meaning “End of the Road”, to the east and Ushū 羽州 or Dewa no kuni 出羽国 to the west. Understandably, the religion and practices of this far-flung territory of Japan maintained a balance between the imperial and cosmopolitan school and style of Kyoto, the capital, and the local characteristics. The worship of mountain is one example, and the belief in Pure Land Buddhism is another. Apart from these ancient architecture and practices, many contemporary museums and galleries has sprung up in Tōhoku in the last 15 years. These architecture take advantage of the beautiful landscape and weave architectonic spaces through them with emphasis on light, surface, and space.

The tour will cover both the ancient and the contemporary manifestations of a regional sensitivity that will shed light on the continuum of artistic and architectural practices.

Puay-peng Ho
Professor of Architecture, School of Architecture
Director, Centre for Architectural Heritage Research
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

HKU Museum Society is delighted to present a fundraising trip for our 30th Anniversary Endowment Fund. “By invitation only”, our members will be treated to a culinary and cultural weekend adventure in Taipei which include visits to private collections and a gastronomic agenda designed by great bon vivant and wine aficionado Mr. Nical Wu from the eslite Corporation. We will be welcomed as special guests at the beautiful eslite Hotel, an urban oasis by Pritzker Prize award-winning architect Mr. Toyo Ito, located in the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.

On Culinary
As General Manager of eslite spectrum Company, Nical plays a critical role in cultivating areas of wine, food, life style groceries and fine dining for the eslite Corporation. A man with enormous wine tasting experience, Nical began studying wine in 1992 undertaking training courses at a number of prominent French wineries including Dom Leroy and Henri de Villamon. He has taken part in tastings of the rare Chateau Lafitte Rothschild 1965, Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1900, Chateau Petrus 1900 and 1947 (mag.) and many more! Since 1996 Nical has also been conducting wine seminars at eslite Bookstores as well as in partnership with Cathay Pacific Airlines.

A pioneer of fine wine appreciation in Taipei, Nical was honoured with the French Chevalier award in 2001. He is the "go to" person for chateau representatives and celebrity chefs when they visit Taiwan. Through his extensive network, Nical has organized officially (and unofficially) over a dozen impressive wine tasting dinners which showcased the world's best wines paired with iconic dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. For this trip, he will be planning two wine-paired dinners for our tasting.

On Cultural
During our stay in Taipei, we will embrace various aspects of Chinese culture through tea tastings, special visits to see exclusive collections of Chinese embroideries, textile and baby carriers from private collectors as well as contemporary art at the eslite Gallery. In addition, we will also explore the beautiful natural landscapes of Yangmingshan and have a chance to purchase Taiwan’s bountiful products.

Autumn would be the best season to visit Yixing 宜興, the town in the Lake Tai (Taihu) 太湖area in Jiangxu province 江蘇省. In the world of Chinese art, Yixing is most famous for its zisha 紫砂 (purple clay) teapots, which have been in production catering to and appreciated by literati and art collectors ever since the late Ming dynasty till nowadays, all through 500 years.

The Yixing teapot masters and their masterpiece teapots, of the past and in the modern, would be the main contents of this Yixing trip. Apart from visits to museums for teapots in the past, we will meet contemporary masters at their studios and stroll through markets for teapots of the modern. We will also enjoy tea in the bamboo grove, imitating and imagining the literati in the past – both tea and bamboo grove, though a bit less famous than teapots, enjoy great fame in Yixing. Moreover, Yixing in Autumn will bestow us not only the good weather, but also the fresh and delicious mitten crabs – what a treat!

Lai Suk Yee

Resource Person
Ms. Lai Suk Yee has been doing research on Yixing teapots 宜興茶壺 and the related art and culture for over 20 years. She has participated in organizing three major exhibitions, publishing books and writing articles on Yixing teapots at the Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, while she was working there as assistant curator and then researcher. Suk Yee retired in August 2015, yet she continues on her research work on Yixing teapots. She is now appointed a Researcher of the Research Institute of Ceramics (Zisha) Culture at Yixing, a Researcher of The Hong Kong Ceramics Research Society in Hong Kong, and also a Museum Expert Adviser of the Leisure Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong Government.