A Tale of Three Cities: Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Export of Silk Products in the Ming and Qing Dynasties

EVENT DESCRIPTION

China is the birthplace of silk, and was the first country to produce textiles made from silkworm cocoons. As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, Chinese silk was already considered one of the most precious commodities exported from China through the overland and maritime trade routes. With the increased connectivity of the maritime trade routes during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Chinese silk was shipped all over the world through the Greater Bay Area as an important mass commodity. The exhibition features 108 sets of exhibits from the three museums, presenting the landscape of the Greater Bay Area and silk production during the period. It also explores the connections between the three places and the story of cultural exchange between East and West through export silk.

The Hong Kong Museum of Art also collaborates with the Computer Aided Fashion Intelligence (CAFI) Research Group and digital fashion students of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on a virtual fashion show that combines new media technology with the creativity of teachers and students, allowing audiences to discover the silk exhibits from diverse angles.