Hong Kong Palace Museum | Hong Kong Palace Museum Launches Summer Programmes Featuring New Exhibitions and Activities “Brilliance: Ming Dynasty Ceramic Treasures from the Palace Museum, 1368–1644” Opens in July

Ushering in the summer season with the first ever “Adventure Night @HKPM” sleepover programme, “Party at the Palace” workshop and thematic tour for children and Student Ambassadors Day

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM or the Museum) is pleased to unveil a host of new exhibitions, educational activities and curatorial programmes for the upcoming summer months. The Museum’s special exhibition “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770–1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” will open to the public on 26 June (Wednesday) in Gallery 9, and the thematic exhibition “Brilliance: Ming Dynasty Ceramic Treasures from the Palace Museum, 1368–1644” will open to the public on 10 July (Wednesday) in Gallery 3. The HKPM will also organise engaging and innovative educational activities, including the first-ever “Adventure Night @HKPM” family sleepover programme, “Party at the Palace” workshop and thematic tour for children, the “Hong Kong Palace Museum Student Ambassadors Day”, creating an immersive arts and cultural journey for the whole family.

Precious ceramics illustrate the pinnacle of Ming dynasty artistry

The Palace Museum generously loaned 914 precious treasures to the HKPM for its opening exhibitions in 2022, followed by an additional 157 loans which were displayed in rotation in 2023. A total of 263 treasures were loaned to the HKPM for the two new exhibitions namely “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Stories Untold — Figure Paintings of the Ming Dynasty from the Palace Museum”, and “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: YUAN MING YUAN — Art and Culture of an Imperial Garden-Palace”. As the HKPM celebrates its second anniversary this July, the Palace Museum has lent 207 precious treasures, including 29 grade-one national treasures, to be displayed in the new thematic exhibitions in the latter half of 2024.

The thematic exhibition “Brilliance: Ming Dynasty Ceramic Treasures from the Palace Museum, 1368–1644”, jointly organised by the HKPM and the Palace Museum, is the HKPM’s second large-scale Palace Museum ceramic exhibition after the opening ceramic exhibition. The Ming dynasty is a golden age in the history of Chinese ceramics. As remarkable works of art, Ming ceramics stand out in quality and diversity. This exhibition features over 100 exquisite treasures, which not only represents the pinnacle of Chinese ceramics, but also tells stories of the Ming history, technological advancements and cultural exchanges of this period. As a result of the imperial patronage, Ming emperors exerted strong influence over porcelain production and style. Continuing the legacy of their predecessors, Ming potters perfected their craft and sought to break new ground.

The exhibition is organised chronologically in three sections, exploring the development and the outstanding achievements of ceramics in the early, mid-, and late Ming dynasty in form, glaze, and design. Most of these exhibits are displayed in Hong Kong for the first time, including 21 grade-one national treasures, such as a pear-shaped vase with “Three Friends of Winter” from the Hongwu period (1368–1398); a dish with dragons among waves from the Zhengtong period (1436–1449); a cup with garden scenes in autumn, from the Chenghua period (1465–1487); and a garlic-mouth bottle with birds and flowers among lotus ponds, from the Wanli period (1537–1620).

In addition, the HKPM will open a new special exhibition “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770–1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” on 26 June (Wednesday) in Gallery 9, displaying nearly 400 pieces of French costumes, jewellery and accessories from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries. The exhibition highlights fascinating stories relating to the evolution of fashion in France and the dynamic interplay of cultures that helped to shape French fashion.

New experiential learning activities on Chinese and other cultures

Families can experience the excitement of the Museum’s first “Adventure Night @HKPM” sleepover programme - a unique two-day, one-night event taking place on 6 and 7 August. This special event offers participants the opportunity to explore the Museum during exclusive hours. The programme includes an overnight stay and a series of educational activities, such as games modelled after ancient imperial court pastimes and bedtime storytelling. This immersive experience offers parents and children a glimpse into the diverse aspects of ancient imperial examinations, hunting expeditions, and daily life, ensuring an extraordinary evening unlike any other. More details including application would be announced on the HKPM website.

Meanwhile, the HKPM will stage its first-ever “Hong Kong Palace Museum Student Ambassadors Day” on 20 July (Saturday). More than 50 HKPM Student Ambassadors, who are either secondary school or tertiary-level students, will take up different roles such as exhibition docents, customer service officers and cultural merchandise ambassadors to experience the operations of the Museum. Solely sponsored by the China Merchants Foundation, the programme aims to deepen students’ understanding and interest in heritage and the museum profession, and to nurture future professionals who can support Hong Kong’s arts and culture industry.

In addition, a series of special workshops will be held for children of all ages to learn the stories behind some of the Museum’s precious artefacts. The “Landscape Taster” workshop encourages children to unleash their creativity by building their own miniature gardens, while the “Party at the Palace” workshop invites children to dress up in court attire and embark on a thematic tour. The workshop details are as follows:

Another treat for families is the return of the much-loved “HKPM Showtime Carnival” this summer, with various performing arts activities presented to the public over two consecutive weekends in August (17–18 and 24–25 August). In addition to music, dance and puppet performances in the South Atrium on the 2nd floor, Museum ticket holders can learn about traditional Chinese culture through bespoke self-learning activities. The HKPM will also organise free family workshops where experienced artists will lead participants in making puppets. The “HKPM Showtime Carnival” is solely sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong), the Museum’s strategic partner.

Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of Hong Kong Palace Museum, says, “Opened for almost two years, the HKPM has welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors, thanks to great support from the local community as well as tourists from Mainland China and overseas. This summer, we have put extra effort into curating exhibitions with diverse themes along with a range of family-focused activities, introducing fresh elements that integrate learning and entertainment. Our goal is to establish the HKPM as a leading destination for cultural experiences, leisure activities and family fun over the summer holidays.”

To celebrate the 27th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, free admission will be offered to the thematic exhibitions of the HKPM on 1 July 2024 (Monday).

Visitors can access the thematic exhibitions with a General Admission ticket, including “Brilliance: Ming Dynasty Ceramic Treasures from the Palace Museum, 1368-1644” (Gallery 3) and “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Stories Untold — Figure Paintings of the Ming Dynasty from the Palace Museum” (Gallery 4). There are also two special exhibitions at the Museum that are not to be missed, namely “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: YUAN MING YUAN – Art and Culture of an Imperial Garden-Palace” (Gallery 8), which just presented its second rotation that will end on 12 August, and “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770–1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” (Gallery 9), which will run from 26 June to 14 October. Please refer to the HKPM website for more information about all this year’s summer programmes.

Remarks

About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to be a leading cultural institution committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while advancing dialogue among world civilisations. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust made a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes in 2023–2031.

Embracing new curatorial approaches, the Museum offers a Hong Kong perspective and a global vision, presenting the finest objects from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum will build international partnerships and help position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the community of Hong Kong, the Museum will inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.

About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
https://www.westkowloon.hk/