Tag Archives: China

     “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Titian and the Venetian Renaissance from the Uffizi” exhibition will be staged at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) starting from today (November 3). Showcasing prestigious collections from the world-renowned Uffizi Galleries in Italy, the exhibition enables visitors to explore the classical works of Titian, who was one of the most important artists in the history of Western art, and those from Venetian School masters from the same period of Titian. This is the first large-scale exhibition of Titian and the Venetian School of painting in Hong Kong. All the 50 exhibits, characterised by their use of rich colours and profound depiction of human emotions, are displayed in Hong Kong for the first time, with many having never been exhibited in Asia before.

     Addressing the opening ceremony held yesterday (November 2), the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to strengthening the city’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has been collaborating with prestigious museums across the globe to bring world-class exhibitions to Hong Kong over the years. This exhibition was the second collaboration with the Uffizi under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019, bringing the beauty of Italian art to the city.

     Other officiating guests included the Ambassador of Italy to the People’s Republic of China, Mr Massimo Ambrosetti; the Director of the Uffizi Galleries, Professor Eike Schmidt; the Executive Manager, Charities (Sports, Culture & Community Engagement) of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ms Winnie Yip; the Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, Mr Vincent Cheng; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; and the Museum Director of the HKMoA, Dr Maria Mok.

     Venice during the Renaissance was an important trading and cultural hub. The affluent setting and unique cultural atmosphere of this city of water nurtured the Venetian School of painters, who were renowned for the use of rich colours and the profound depiction of human emotions. Titian was one of the most important artists of that time, and was highly sought after not only in Venice but across Europe. Titian excels at representing the most intense facets of human sentiment – love, desire, power and spirituality – in an extraordinary way, which made him not only a model for his contemporaries, but his works also profoundly influenced European art, even in the centuries to follow.

     This exhibition features 50 precious works by Titian and Venetian artists of the same period such as Giorgione, Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese and more. The content of the works includes portraits and works of biblical and mythological subjects, enabling the audience to be immersed in the artistic world of the Venetian School of painting. Highlight exhibits include Titian’s “Flora”, “Venus and Cupid with a Dog and a Partridge”, “Portrait of Tommaso Mosti” and “Madonna of Mercy”; Giorgione’s “Moses Undergoing Trial by Fire”, Tintoretto’s “Venus, Cupid and Vulcan” and Veronese’s “Baptism of Christ”. 

     In addition, the HKMoA has invited local artists Leung Chi Wo and Chan Kwan-lok to draw inspiration from the Venetian School of painting and create their artworks, initiating an artistic dialogue spanning the centuries with 16th century Italian Renaissance masters through the unique perspectives of 21st century Hong Kong artists. 

     The site-specific art installation, “Tears of Tempo” created by visual artist Leung, allows viewers to explore the subtle yet delicate marks of time. Leung collected vintage Venetian glass lamps which have been used at various homes and places in Italy from the 19th and 20th centuries. The flickering light reflected on the vintage Venetian glass, together with the sound track recorded by the artist in Venice in September this year of waves hitting the docks of Murano, represent a transcendental meeting across time and geography.

     Inspired by the fusion of the divine and the human in the Venetian School of painting, artist Chan employs traditional ink techniques to personify natural elements such as the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, trees, and rocks, infusing them with vitality. Through the portrayal of emotions and experiences, he aims to establish a profound connection with nature, bringing it closer to human senses. Through 13 gongbi paintings in his ink art installation, “The Connection with Nature”, viewers will be immersed in the profound artistic emotions from both past and present, uncovering the inherent depth and meaning within.

     The exhibition will run from November 3 to February 28 next year at the Special Gallery on the second floor of the HKMoA (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon). The exhibition is solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, presented by the LCSD and the MiC – Italian Ministry of Culture, and jointly organised by the HKMoA and the Uffizi Galleries. In collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong, the exhibition is supported by the Italian Cultural Institute in Hong Kong and is a programme of ITALIA on STAGE. For details of the exhibition, please visit the website at hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/titian-and-the-venetian-renaissance-from-the-uffizi.html or call 2721 0116 for enquiries.

                    

The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
      
     The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded “M” Mark status to three major international sports events to be held in early November this year, namely the Hong Kong Open 2023 (November 9 to 12), the FIA World Rallycross Championship Hong Kong, China – Season Finale 2023 (November 11 and 12) and the New World Harbour Race 2023 (November 12).
      
     The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr Wilfred Ng, said today (November 3) that like all other “M” Mark events, these three events will add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong and thereby bring in more visitors from abroad.
      
     “The Hong Kong Open 2023, being one of the events held under the Asian Tour’s International Series, will return to the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. In addition, the FIA World Rallycross Championship Hong Kong, China – Season Finale 2023 will take place in Hong Kong for the first time, which is also the first city centre circuit in its history. Together with the New World Harbour Race which once again becomes a major international sports event, the month of November will be an exhilarating one for major sports events. These events not only showcase Hong Kong’s capability to host world-class events, but also enhance Hong Kong’s position as a centre for major international sports events,” Mr Ng said.
              
     The “M” Mark System aims to encourage and help local national sports associations and private and non-government organisations to organise more major international sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria will be granted “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some events.
      
     For details of “M” Mark events, please visit www.mevents.org.hk. read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:      Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced toda… read more

　　The Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s “Our Music Talents” Series will present a yangqin recital in early December, in which local yangqin artist Yanki Ma will collaborate with Chinese and Western instrumental musicians to perform a variety of traditional Cantonese music pieces and contemporary compositions, showcasing her exquisite yangqin skills while giving the audience a taste of the diversity and fusion of artistic characteristics of yangqin.

　　In the recital, Ma will give solo performance of Iranian music “Chaharmezrab-e-Mahoor” on a santur and Appalachian folk hymn “Lancaster” on a hammered dulcimer. She will also play the solo piece “Phoenixes Flying in Pairs” and her original composition “Light in Darkness” on a Chinese yangqin. In addition, Ma will partner with yangqin player Chiu Kuan-wei to present another of her original composition “The Tanka Boat Song” and the Hong Kong premiere of “The Black Butterfly” by Chiu. She will be joined by Ricky Yeung (xiao), Chan Pik-sum (gaohu), Timothy Kwok (piano), Kiki Sun (ruan), Nazar Tabachyshyn (accordion) and Alphonsus Ho (double bass) to perform an array of music pieces to explore the boundaries between Chinese and Western music. Programme includes “A Hungry Horse Shaking Its Bells”, “Lovers’ Sorrow”, “Waves Washing the Sand”, “Dancing Leaves – Libra”, “Csárdás”, “The Countess Cathleen” and “Riverdance” from “Riverdance”, and “The Phoenix”.

　　Ma graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Central Conservatory of Music, with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music and a master’s degree in yangqin performance respectively. Ma was the founding Vice President of the Hong Kong Yangqin Association. She is currently a yangqin player of the Cantonese Music Assembly, a core member of the Jasmine Ensemble of the Central Conservatory of Music, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Asian Dulcimer Association, and a member of the Cimbalom World Association. In 2022, Ma performed at the Grand Variety Show in Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to the Motherland. She also held solo recitals in many parts of the world.  
 
　　”Our Music Talents” Series: Yangqin Recital by Yanki Ma will be staged at 8pm on December 4 (Monday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $140 and $180 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Package discounts will be available for ticket purchases with “Our Music Talents” Series and “City Hall Virtuosi” Series programmes. For discount schemes and programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1588.html.

  

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will lead a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government delegation to visit Shanghai tomorrow (November 4) and will attend the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE).
      
     Members of the HKSAR Government delegation include the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Director of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Carol Yip; and the Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Clement Woo.
      
     Over 300 Hong Kong enterprises will also participate in the CIIE in Shanghai. This is the first time that a seminar with the theme of Hong Kong, namely Channelling Global Business through Hong Kong, will be hosted during the CIIE.
      
     On November 5, Mr Lee will attend the opening ceremony of the CIIE and visit the booths of Hong Kong enterprises at the Hong Kong exhibition area to show support. Moreover, Mr Lee will respectively deliver a speech at the seminar on Channelling Global Business through Hong Kong and the Invest in China Year Summit under the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, to promote to Mainland and overseas enterprises Hong Kong’s role as an important channel between the country and the world.
      
     Mr Chan will deliver a speech at a seminar on Revitalizing Real Economy with Financial Resources under the Hongqiao International Economic Forum to promote Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.
      
     Mr Lee said, “Hong Kong proactively participates in and supports the CIIE. In addition to senior government officials attending, a number of business leaders will participate in a seminar to be held during the CIIE and introduce to participants the unique strengths of Hong Kong on various fronts under ‘one country, two systems’.
      
     “The CIIE is a significant move by the country to actively open the Mainland market to the world, and provide vast business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises to tap into the domestic market. The CIIE is receiving an overwhelming response from Hong Kong’s business community, with a record high of over 300 Hong Kong enterprises taking part in the exposition this year.”
      
     During his visit to Shanghai, Mr Lee will meet with leaders of the Shanghai Municipal Government. He will also exchange views with Hong Kong people living, working and studying in Shanghai.
      
     Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on November 6. During his absence, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, will be the Acting Chief Executive. During the absence of Mr Paul Chan, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, will be the Acting Financial Secretary. During the absence of Mr Yau, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. During the absence of Dr Choi, the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, will be the Acting Secretary for Education. read more