First special exhibition from the Museum’s permanent collection traces the evolution of gold in cultural exchanges between ancient China and adjacent territories, featuring 220 sets of gold ornaments spanning over three millennia from the world-renowned Mengdiexuan Collection.

Text by Edelman Public Relations
Images courtesy of Hong Kong Palace Museum
February 23, 2023

The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), Hong Kong’s new cultural landmark in the West Kowloon Cultural District, today unveils “Radiance: Ancient Gold from the Hong Kong Palace Museum Collection and the Mengdiexuan Collection”, the first special exhibition curated from the Museum’s own permanent collection. The exhibition offers an incredible display of 220 sets of ancient gold artefacts, with the oldest dating back to the 18th century BCE. The majority of items on display are specially selected from a donation made to the HKPM by the owners of the world-renowned Mengdiexuan Collection (夢蝶軒), Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu, while the rest of the exhibits are loaned from the Collection. The exhibition will be open to the public from tomorrow (22 February 2023) until 25 September 2023.

The official opening ceremony for the exhibition held at the HKPM today, was officiated by Raistlin Lau, Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Winnie Tam, Chairman of the HKPM Board; Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM, together with Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu. As the biggest exhibition in Hong Kong in recent years to highlight the artistic and technical achievements of gold artefacts in ancient China, this exhibition explores the role of gold in political activities, daily life, culture, and the dynamic interactions across territories over the past 3,000 years.

Raistlin Lau, Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government, said, “This year marks the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and this major exhibition illustrates the long and strong friendship that exists between China and countries along the Belt and Road, promoting understanding and fostering exchange among peoples. We believe this exhibition will attract local, mainland and international visitors, boosting cultural tourism in Hong Kong and further strengthening the city’s position as a hub for world-class cultural and arts events.”

Winnie Tam, Chairman of the Board of Hong Kong Palace Museum, said, “The exhibition reflects the uniqueness of the trade, cultural exchanges and dynamic dialogues that existed in ancient China, and enables visitors to understand the unity and diversity of the Chinese nation. The breadth and depth of this exhibition are exceptional, marking its significance for the study and showcase of the evolution of Chinese art and culture. We are truly grateful for the generous donation from Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu, and hope that more collectors can join to support the Museum in its mission to promote the public’s understanding and appreciation of Chinese art and culture.”

Betty Lo, owner of the Mengdiexuan Collection, said, “We are delighted to have donated our beloved collections to the HKPM. The HKPM has a team of top museum experts in exhibition curation and programming, conservation, design and more. Its international positioning and the professionalism of the research team also give us great confidence. We firmly believe that with its global perspective and pioneering curatorial approach, the HKPM will make good use of our donation to further foster the understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture among the international audience.”

Major showcase of gold artefacts spanning three millennia

The exhibition presents an incredible display of 220 sets of gold objects, including exquisite accessories of the nobles and the splendid ornaments that adorned their horses and carriages, with the oldest dating back to the 18th century BCE. These delicately crafted gold objects still glimmer, despite their age, and many are being shown to the public for the first time.

The exhibition is divided into three sections: the first section features early gold objects from the Central Plains and Northern Steppe from the 18th century BCE to the Han Dynasty, such as the gold crowns of a Xiongnu elite, examining the interaction between ancient China and the Steppe. The second section focuses on the role of gold in the close relationship between the Tubo Kingdom and the Tang dynasty from the 7th to 10th century, which was marked by frequent exchanges resulting from the development of the Silk Road trade routes. Highlighted exhibits include ornaments used by Tubo nobles and embellished with patterns from the Central Plains, as well as the jewelled headdress inspired by Central Western Asian crafts and worn by princesses of the Tang dynasty. The last section looks at the pinnacle of goldsmithing in ancient China, demonstrating the cultural localisation and integration that took place from the Liao and Song dynasties to the Ming dynasty.

Nurturing the public’s knowledge and appreciation of Chinese arts and culture

In addition to showcasing the precious treasures loaned from the Palace Museum, the HKPM is committed to building a unique collection that highlights Hong Kong’s role in promoting traditional Chinese culture and the efforts of collectors in showcasing its beauty. The Museum also highlights the interaction between China and the world as well as the artistic and cultural dialogue between ancient China and the present. Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu, owners of the Mengdiexuan Collection, are both eminent collectors. In 2022, the couple generously donated 306 sets of ancient Chinese gold and silver antiquities to the HKPM, including precious items spanning more than 3,000 years. Their donation laid a strong foundation for the development of the Museum’s permanent collection.

Dr. Louis Ng, Museum Director of HKPM, Dr. Daisy Wang, Deputy Director (Curatorial and Programming) of HKPM and Dr. Raphael Wong, Associate Curator of HKPM introduce the curatorial highlights of the special exhibition at a media briefing.

To complement this special exhibition, various educational programmes will be held at the HKPM, including a talk hosted by HKPM’s curators, which Betty Lo and Kenneth Chu will share their collecting journey, connoisseurship, and other insights into the exhibition.

The exhibition opens in Gallery 9 of the HKPM on 22 February and runs until 25 September 2023. Admission, which includes access to all other galleries in the Museum, is priced at HK$120 for adults and HK$60 for concessions. Tickets are now available for sale or reservation through the West Kowloon Cultural District’s online ticketing platforms and ticketing partners.