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Contribution of more than 900 gold and silver antique treasures from the Mengdiexuan Collection reinforces HKPM’s world-class status
The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is delighted to announce the receipt of a generous donation of 946 ancient Chinese gold and silver antiquities from collectors Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu, owners of the Mengdiexuan Collection. The donation paves the way for the HKPM to become one of the leading museum collections of its kind, laying the foundation for the development of a world-class collection of Chinese cultural treasures.
At a donation ceremony held at Government House today, Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), presented certificates of appreciation to Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu in recognition of their significant contribution to the HKPM. Other officiating guests included Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Palace Museum Board, Lee Check Fan, Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Palace Museum Board, Jack Chan, Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and Louis Ng, Museum Director, Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Mengdiexuan Collection masterpieces showcased at HKPM’s opening exhibition
Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu are both world-renowned collectors. Their collections of gold and silver antiques are well-known and widely admired around the world. Their generous donation to the HKPM includes 946 ancient Chinese gold and silver antiques from ethnic groups in different regions, including the Eurasian Steppes, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Central Plains. The unique characteristics of the pieces reflect differences in the nomadic and farming cultures in these regions.
Spanning three millennia, the collection comprises a broad spectrum of objects including personal accessories of the nobles and ornaments for their horses and carriages. Opening a window into the trade and cultural exchanges that existed between the dynasties in the Central Plains and surrounding nomads, the donated treasures give visitors a unique opportunity to learn more about the unity and diversity of the Chinese nation while inspiring deeper cultural appreciation.
Some of the donated items will be exhibited at one of the HKPM’s opening thematic exhibitions, Private to Public: The History of Chinese Art Collecting in Hong Kong. The museum is also planning to host another special exhibition featuring pieces from the collection in August 2023. The HKPM has already received several loan requests for this collection from museums in Hong Kong and Europe, demonstrating the importance of the donation.
Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said: “I am very delighted that the HKPM can receive this generous donation from Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu which demonstrates their trust and support to the museum. Being a facilitator of the HKPM, it is my great pleasure to receive this collection on behalf of the museum in my capacity as Chief Executive. Their generous donation, which enables the HKPM to become one of the leading museum collections of its kind even during its early stages of opening, will have a far-reaching impact on the museum’s collection development, as well as Hong Kong's development as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange.”
Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the HKPM Board, said: “In addition to showcasing priceless treasures loaned from the Palace Museum and artistic and cultural relics loaned from other world-class institutions, the HKPM is committed to building a unique collection that highlights Hong Kong’s role in promoting traditional Chinese culture. In just half a year, the museum has received multiple donations of artworks and cultural treasures, which is a testament to the public’s support for our vision. We hope more collectors will consider making donations to HKPM, supporting our mission to promote the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture, as well as becoming a leading cultural institution globally.”
Betty Lo, donor of the treasures of the Mengdiexuan Collection, said: “We are very grateful to have found the perfect home for our beloved collection. We firmly believe that these hundreds of treasures will help the HKPM realise its vision, leveraging its global perspective and curatorial approach to further promote Chinese arts and culture to visitors from around the world.”
The HKPM is committed to fostering dialogue between world civilisations by cultivating audiences’ understanding and appreciation of Chinese arts and culture. Apart from showcasing the precious treasures loaned from the Palace Museum, the HKPM is committed to building up its own collections that can illustrate the history, culture, aesthetic value and creativity of Chinese arts as well as showcasing the interaction between China and the world, and between ancient and contemporary arts.
Private to Public: The History of Chinese Art Collecting in Hong Kong will be one of the HKPM’s opening thematic exhibitions. Featuring more than 100 treasures, the exhibition will survey, for the first time, more than a century of Chinese art collecting in Hong Kong, paying homage to the collectors, scholars and enthusiasts who have promoted Chinese culture on the local and international stage. In addition to the selected items from the Mengdiexuan Collection, the exhibition will also feature important collections donated by Lawrence Chan, Anthony Cheung, Professor Raymond Fung and Wu Chie-hong.
Lawrence Chan, owner of the Dawentang collection, has donated two pieces of blue-and-white porcelain to HKPM. Mr Chan is a renowned collector of Chinese art and a member of the Min Chiu Society. His collection has been exhibited at many museums and extensively published.
Anthony Cheung, owner of the Huaihaitang collection, has donated 12 pieces of blue-and-white porcelain. Mr Cheung has an extensive collection of imperial Chinese porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties and owns the celebrated Huaihaitang Collection, which has been exhibited and published by the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Professor Raymond Fung has donated his ink painting Dynasties to HKPM. Professor Fung is a renowned artist and architect in Hong Kong. He has held solo exhibitions across the globe and his works are widely collected by international museums.
Wu Chie-hong has donated 30 paintings by his father, Cantonese painter Wu Cho-bun (or Wu Zaobin, 1897-1942). Mr Wu was an important and renowned painter in the Republican art world and an active art educator whose footprint covered Guangdong, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Remarks
About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to become 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, which is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment.
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 arts 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.
www.hkpm.org.hk
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.
www.westkowloon.hk
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