Hong Kong Museum of Art receives over 1 000 precious artworks including Chinese paintings and calligraphy from Jingguanlou collection (with photos)
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The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) has received a generous donation of more than 1 000 valuable artworks, mainly comprising Chinese paintings and calligraphy from the modern era, from renowned collector and photographer Dr Wong Kwai-kuen, who is also the Founder of the Jingguanlou collection. About 60 of the newly donated items will be showcased in the “Contemplation: Highlights of the Donation of the Jingguanlou Collection” exhibition at the museum from November 26 (Friday) for public appreciation.
Dr Wong is a renowned retired doctor. Jingguanlou, the private art collection compiled by Dr Wong, focuses on 20th century Chinese paintings and calligraphy. The collection covers mainly valuable works by masters of the Shanghai School of painting, with the most comprehensive collection of artworks created by Zhu Qizhan (1892-1996), Xie Zhiliu (1910-1997) and Chen Peiqiu (1923-2020) at different stages in their lives.
Dr Wong generously donated a total of 1 108 artworks from various categories to the HKMoA. Apart from masterpieces of the Shanghai School, the donation also includes a collection of fan leaves and folding fans, couplets and albums, dating from the Qing dynasty to the modern era; a series of Yixing purple clay teapots with rubbings; and Dr Wong’s own photographic works. Dr Wong is a photography enthusiast who received numerous international awards. His photographic works are influenced by Chinese art and culture, in particular the works of Zhu Qizhan. Dr Wong explores and strives to break through the visual language of photography with undertones of traditional aesthetics.
The HKMoA has received several donations from the community in the past and many were from various members of the Min Chiu Society, a renowned local collectors’ organisation. Dr Wong once served as the Society’s president. By donating his collection to the HKMoA, Dr Wong wishes to share his joy in and affection for the outstanding Chinese artworks he has acquired. This generous act fully reflects his selfless traditional Chinese values. The donation has further recognised the HKMoA as a home for local private collections and enhanced its status as an international museum.
“Contemplation: Highlights of the Donation of the Jingguanlou Collection” exhibition will run from November 26 to February 16 next year at the China Trade Art Gallery on the third floor of the HKMoA. For details of the exhibition and admission arrangements, please visit the website at hk.art.museum/en_US/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/contemplation-highlights-of-the-donation-of-the-jingguanlou-collection.html or call 2721 0116 for enquiries.
The Jingguanlou collection will be featured in a series of thematic exhibitions at the HKMoA from early 2022. A dedicated gallery, named the Jingguanlou Gallery, will be established on the fourth floor of the HKMoA for the display and appreciation of the collection and related exhibits, enabling visitors to appreciate these extraordinary cultural treasures and Dr Wong’s connoisseurship.
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