West Kowloon Cultural District Authority names Deputy Director, Curatorial and Programming for the Hong Kong Palace Museum

Appointment of Dr Daisy Yiyou Wang, a distinguished scholar and curator of Chinese art, bolsters museum’s leadership team ahead of 2022 opening


The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) today announced the appointment of Dr Daisy Yiyou Wang to the position of Deputy Director, Curatorial and Programming for the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM). Dr Wang will be responsible for the HKPM’s research, collections, exhibitions, publications, learning and engagement functions in support of the museum’s overarching mission and strategic planning. Her appointment is effective on 2 July 2019.
 

Dr Wang was most recently the Robert N. Shapiro Curator of Chinese and East Asian Art at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, USA. She oversaw the museum’s prestigious Chinese, Japanese and Korean collections and led a dynamic programme of new exhibitions, acquisitions and research projects. Her curatorial vision and leadership have garnered support from individuals, corporations and foundations, including a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Previously she served at the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, where she received a post-doctoral fellowship and a Smithsonian Scholarly Studies Award. Her experience also includes work with the Shanghai Biennale, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Asia Society Museum in New York, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
 

Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairman of the Board of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, said, ‘Dr Wang will be integral to our efforts to build a distinctive cultural hub for Hong Kong, one that showcases a unique collection of Chinese and international exhibits from all over the world. She will also be instrumental in ensuring that the Hong Kong Palace Museum meets and exceeds visitor expectations for a first-rate museum experience. Dr Wang brings impressive abilities as a curator, academic and educator for leading global institutions, all of which will be invaluable as we continue to prepare for the museum’s opening in 2022.’
 

A scholar in Ming and Qing court painting and decorative art, Chinese contemporary art, and the history of collecting Chinese art, Dr Wang has curated and co-curated a number of successful exhibitions throughout her career. Most recently, she co-curated with Jan Stuart the major exhibition Empresses of China’s Forbidden City (2018-2019), which sheds new light on the role of empresses in shaping Qing court art and history. Organised by the Peabody Essex Museum, the Smithsonian’s Freer|Sackler, and the Palace Museum, this ground-breaking exhibition, now on view in Washington D.C., marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of U.S.-China diplomatic relations. Dr Wang has published and lectured internationally. Her upcoming book is the first monograph on the founder of the American National Museum of Asian Art Charles Lang Freer and the formation of his Chinese art collection. As a leader in international museum collaboration, Dr Wang founded the American Alliance of Museums' China Program, the largest annual US-China museum professional exchange programme.
 

Dr Wang said, ‘I am thrilled about this incredible opportunity to present the best of art from China and around the world. It is such a privilege to work with the world-class team at the WKCDA, the Palace Museum and other partners in our joint effort to make Hong Kong a global centre for the arts and culture. The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to become a leader and powerhouse in innovation, community engagement, and international collaboration. Personally, I really look forward to meeting new colleagues and friends in Hong Kong and getting closer to my parents in my home-coming move to Hong Kong.’
 

‘The Hong Kong Palace Museum will be one of West Kowloon Cultural District’s marquee attractions – a world-class centre for art appreciation, and a symbol of Hong Kong’s rising position as a leading cultural metropolis,’ said Mr Duncan Pescod, Chief Executive Officer of the WKCDA. ‘Appointing an executive with Dr Wang’s qualifications shows our steadfast commitment to ensuring that the museum’s content and operations achieve standards that reflect the excellence of the facility’s design and construction. We are delighted to welcome a scholar and professional of Dr Wang’s calibre to our team.’
 

The HKPM, a collaboration between the WKCDA and the Palace Museum, is scheduled to open in 2022. Boasting 7,600 square metres of gallery space, it will display artefacts of Chinese art and culture from the imperial collection of the Palace Museum as well as Chinese and international exhibits from other leading museums around the world. It is also expected to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a global centre for arts and culture by creating opportunities for research and education.
 

Remarks

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 forty 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 twenty-three hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.