Bodhi Flowers in Blossom

EVENT DESCRIPTION

“Bodhi Flowers in Blossom” A Buddhist Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition in Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the HKSAR is jointly organised by the Buddhist Association of China, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, undertaken by the Po Lin Monastery, and co-organised by the Jao Tsung-I Academy, the Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole of the University of Hong Kong and the Sun Museum. It is an occasion to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong and the completion of maintenance and improvement works of the Big Buddha and long staircase of the Po Lin Monastery.

The exhibition consists of two sections, namely “Treasures of the Po Lin Monastery” and “Paintings and Calligraphy by the Chinese Buddhists”. The former features 41 paintings and calligraphical works collected by the Po Lin Monastery. Most of the works were created by leading artists and scholars in 1989 for a public exhibition to raise funds for building the Big Buddha. These fabulous works were gifted to the monastery after the exhibition. Exhibits come from important names from the last century, such as Erya Deng, Gao Zhenbai, Zhao Puchu, Kuan Shanyueh, Chen Zhanquan, Jao Tsung-i, Ng Kuhung, Ha Bikchuen and Auyeung Naichim, to name a few. Together they illustrate the most important schools and styles of contemporary Chinese art, which include the Lingnan School, the New Ink, as well as various overseas returnees’. Art mediums cover calligraphy, ink painting, oil painting and printmaking, with some of the artworks having Po Lin Monastery as the motif for commemoration. All these treasures provide important information for the study of Hong Kong art history.

“Paintings and Calligraphy by the Chinese Buddhists” features 63 works created by 53 monks and Buddhist leaders from China in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong. Contributors include the Venerable Yanjue, President, Buddhist Association of China; Mr. Liu Wei, Secretary General, Buddhist Association of China; the Venerable Kuan Yun, President, the Hong Kong Buddhist Association; and the Venerable Siu Kun, Emeritus President, Hong Kong Buddhist Sangha Association. Calligraphy is the dominant medium and Chinese poetry and buddhist teachings are the pivotal themes of this section. The exhibition signifies the contributors’ blessings to Hong Kong: may art purify people’s minds and bring loving-kindness, compassion and wisdom to the city.