Peter Cheung's Guide to Hong Kong Art, Science and History Hotspots

Tatler's man about town shines a light on five cultural institutions that promote learning and heritage in Hong Kong

There’s a real buzz around arts and culture in Hong Kong, largely thanks to the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District, including the M+ museum opening last November, and the upcoming unveiling of the Palace Museum. There’s talk of Hong Kong reinventing itself as a cultural hub but, in reality, the city has long been home to many fine galleries and museums that have laid the foundation for the current wave of excitement. Here, I check in with some of my favourites.

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Gilt Silver Case in the Shape of a Tortoise shown at the first day of the Golden Techniques, Art of the Chinese Goldsmiths as well as the History of Gold: Masterpieces from Shaanxi at the Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong in Sha Tin. 04JUL17 SCMP / Nora Tam (Photo by Nora Tam/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Above Be inspired by exquisite treasures, such as this gilt silver tortoise, on display at Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong in Sha Tin. (Photo: Getty Images)

One hundred horses, A anonymous show at exhibition "Notable Horses in Chinese Culture", for celebrating the year of the Horse at Art Museum of Chinese University, Sha Tin. 28JAN14 (Photo by Dickson Lee/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Above Pore over windows to the past at CUHK's Art Museum. (Photo: Getty Images)

Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Founded in 1971, the Art Museum at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) emphasises Chinese studies and China’s artistic legacy. With more than 15,000 works in its collection today, the museum curates diverse exhibitions, organises symposia and offers professional exchange programmes. Don’t miss the current virtual exhibition, A Legacy of Elegance: Oracle Bones Collection from CUHK (until August 31), which takes visitors back in time to learn about oracle bones—animal bones used for divination since the Shang Dynasty. The exhibition includes bones from the CUHK Collection, bronze scripts from the museum’s collection, and calligraphic works and monographs by well-known scholars.

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Above The Hong Kong Arts Centre celebrates its 45th anniversary this year (and so does Tatler!)

Above Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai

Hong Kong Arts Centre

In the heart of Wan Chai, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) has fostered artistic exchange locally and internationally, brought the most forward-looking creations to Hong Kong and showcased homegrown talent abroad since 1977. Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, HKAC is the city’s only independent, non-profit multi-arts institution, offering exhibitions, screenings and performances of Hong Kong artists, and collaborations with international artists. It offers more than 2,000 programmes covering performing arts, visual arts, film and video arts, public art projects, and art conferences and festivals.

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As the HKAC’s chairwoman Dominica Yang tells me, “We offer a platform for diverse, edgy and experimental art projects as well as a breeding ground for our very own local artists.” The current Lin Xue virtual exhibition (until May) represents the close connection between an artist and the HKAC. Lin explored the wonder of nature, painting with sharpened bamboo stalks to create images of rocks, plants, animals and other creatures from his imagination.

The Hong Kong Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui during the "blue hour". This museum reopened in 2019, after a 4-year renovation, costing 930 million HKD. (Photo by Marc Fernandes/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Above The Hong Kong Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui reopened in 2019 after a four-year renovation, costing HK$930 million. (Photo: Getty Images)

Above The escalator of Hong Kong Museum of Art, was decorated with works by Andy Warhol in 2012. (Photo: Getty Images)

Hong Kong Museum of Art

Established in 1962, the HKMoA was the first public art museum in Hong Kong, and now houses more than 17,000 sets of items, including Chinese antiquities, modern and Hong Kong art, China trade art, Chinese painting and calligraphy, and donated collections ranging from calligraphy to teaware. The museum, housed in stunning architecture overlooking Victoria Harbour, was beautifully renovated and reopened in 2019. One exciting current exhibition, Redefining Reality (until November 11), is a large-scale public installation showcasing the work Resonance-In-Sight, co-created by Hong Kong-based artists Kristof Crolla and Garvin Goepel.

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“For 60 years, HKMoA has been collecting not only key art works but also key moments, such as turning points in the career of a master or an art moment," says Maria Mok, museum director of HKMoA. "In 2022, our 60th anniversary year, we will celebrate these uncelebrated moments to complement the story of Hong Kong in art.”

Visitors enjoy the exhibition of Jin Yong Gallery, a permanent exhibition, at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. Jin Yong (aka Louis Chia Leung-yung) is one of the renowned Chinese martial arts novel writer in the 20th century. Picture shows an decorative screen depicting the novel characters of The Eagle-shooting Heroes. 01MAR17 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng (Photo by K. Y. Cheng/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Above Visitors can boost their knowledge of Hong Kong's history and culture at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. (Photo: Getty Images)

Above The Hong Kong Heritage Museum stands in Tsim Sha Tsui. (Photo: Getty Images)

Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Opened in 2000, the Heritage Museum presents a mix of history, art and culture. The museum has five permanent galleries and hosts exhibitions throughout the year, enriching, inspiring, preserving and exploring the diversity and vibrancy of Hong Kong. The X-Xperimenting Exhibition—Danny Yung 50 Year Creations (until March 14) is a not-to-be-missed display of work by the trailblazing experimental artist. Since his return from New York to Hong Kong in the 1970s, Yung has focused on multimedia creations including film, comics, installations, video, theatre and conceptual art. He co-founded experimental theatre company Zuni Icosahedron and has established various platforms for exchange and experimental art on and off stage.

Visitors interact with an exhibition item about electricity in the Hong Kong Science Museum, in Hong Kong, China on May 22, 2021. (Photo by Vernon Yuen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Above An exhibition item about electricity at the Hong Kong Science Museum. (Photo: Getty Images)

Above The Energy Machine exhibit at the Hong Kong Science Museum is the largest kinetic sculpture in the world. (Photo: Getty Images)

Hong Kong Science Museum

Opened in 1991, the Hong Kong Science Museum teaches that science is culture through exhibitions and programmes that encourage visitors to explore exhibitions in their own way. The museum houses hundreds of exhibits, most of which are interactive and for all ages. Its most impressive feature is the four-storey Energy Machine, the largest of its kind in the world.

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Topics

Peter Cheung Hotlist HKMOA Hong Kong Heritage Museum Hong Kong Arts Centre M+ Museum Maria Mok Dominica Yang Hong Kong Science Museum CUHK Hong Kong Palace Museum Hong Kong Art Galleries

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Peter Cheung's Guide to Hong Kong Art, Science and History Hotspots