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The Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) presents the exhibition Hong Kong Impressions from 7 September to 29 November 2020, featuring over 100 paintings and photographs of old Hong Kong from the 1940s to 1970s. What you thought you knew about Hong Kong may not be what the artists saw, and what you see in their works may or may not be what they had in mind. Many scenic spots recently made popular during the pandemic-induced local tourism had, in fact, been imaginatively painted by Hong Kong artists of earlier generations.

Pearl of the Orient by Hong Kong artist Yip Yan-chuen, presenting a panoramic view of the Peak and Hong Kong skyline in the 1950s in a set of six hanging scrolls, is the most monumental painting of this exhibition that will test your knowledge and memory of Hong Kong’s iconic buildings of yesteryear.

In addition to stunning views of the Peak, Victoria Harbour and other landmarks in Hong Kong, sketches and snapshots of everyday life and scenic spots off the beaten track by Lui Shou-kwan, Wucius Wong and a dozen other artists serve as a reminder of how this metropolis evolved in the 20^th century. Many works are exhibited for the first time, including coloured photographs from the 1950s which have been newly acquired by the Art Museum, CUHK.

Apart from the exhibition, an inspiring array of programmes, publications and souvenirs have been laid out, allowing people to immerse themselves in Hong Kong’s art and culture. “Time Travel．Hong Kong” virtual tours and activities, the exhibition catalogue, as well as coffee drip bags with “flavours” of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and outlying islands are not to be missed. The Art Museum also invited guests such as Prof. Joseph Ting Sun-pao, Prof. Wucius Wong, Prof. Lui Tai-lok, and Prof. Fan Sin-piu to share their impressions of Hong Kong.

Programme and Production Highlights:

“Time Travel．Hong Kong” Virtual Tours

The Art Museum, CUHK presents three virtual tours that juxtapose current street views with landscape paintings and coloured slides from the 1940s to 1970s on Google Poly.

Hong Kong Island: https://poly.google.com/view/aQOLiJvOoWR
Kowloon: https://poly.google.com/view/8n8WTgnc0hE
The New Territories: https://poly.google.com/view/3NVTCrkEEJu

Links to the tours and introduction to selected spots are featured in the travel guide published by the Art Museum.

Time Travel Guide (English version): https://bit.ly/3k8yoq7 

Hong Kong Impressions Coffee Drip Bags

The coffee drip bags, with packaging design featuring the paintings of Hong Kong artist Yip Yan-chuen, are available for sale starting from 25 September 2020 at My Little Coffee shops and the Art Museum, CUHK. Four paintings on the products depict scenery of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and outlying islands in the 20^th century. A taste for the place featured in each painting was designed by the Art Museum and My Little Coffee, an inclusive coffee merchandizer in Hong Kong. With a view to enhancing users’ experience and arousing their interest in art and culture, QR codes are provided on the packaging for people to scan and get to know more about the stories behind the images.

“Savouring Hong Kong” Online Activity

The Art Museum invites people to vote for and write about their favourite scenic spot in Hong Kong. Each participant will be rewarded with one Hong Kong Impressions coffee drip bag (gifts available while stock lasts).

Link to this online activity: https://padlet.com/artmuseumcu/7c49sywk3g71qu9h 

Exhibition Catalogue

This exhibition catalogue includes essays written by Prof. Pedith Pui Chan from SOAS University of London, and Dr. Vivian Ting Wing Yan, an independent researcher. There are also entries introducing the exhibits. This bilingual catalogue also comes with plates in full colour and the transcription of all inscriptions, colophons and seals of exhibited paintings.

Hong Kong Impressions Video Series

The Art Museum invited guests such as Prof. Joseph Ting Sun-pao, Prof. Wucius Wong, Prof. Lui Tai-lok, and Prof. Fan Sin-piu to share their impressions of Hong Kong. Videos of their talks will be available on the website and social media platforms of the Art Museum, CUHK.

Details of the exhibition Hong Kong Impressions are as follows: 

About the Art Museum, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Founded in 1971, the Art Museum, CUHK serves the University community and public in Hong Kong by collecting, preserving, researching and exhibiting a wide range of artifacts illuminating the rich arts, humanities, and cultural heritage of ancient and pre-modern China. The Art Museum promotes the excellence of both its permanent collections and loan collections of Chinese art, and their use for scholarly endeavours and outreach efforts. As a university teaching museum, it offers in-depth practice of museology and archaeology as well as the teaching of art history through direct and sustained access to original Chinese works of art in collaboration with the Department of Fine Arts and the Centre for Chinese Archaeology and Art. With the support of different faculties, it advocates interdisciplinary approaches to the social, cultural, technological, and historical context of Chinese art. Adhering to the purpose of the University, the Museum is committed to promoting Chinese culture and academic exchanges as well as contributing to society.

Website: http://www.artmuseum.cuhk.edu.hk/ 

Please download the images shown in this press release at:
https://bit.ly/3c09TZe 

Attachment: Exhibit highlights