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The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures

5 September 2023 - 30 November 2023

Free

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Indra and Harry Banga Gallery of City University of Hong Kong (CityU) presents its second phase of the exhibition “The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures”, from 5 September to 30 November, 2023. Commencing with four authentic zodiac heads from the Yuanmingyuan in the first phase, the exhibition will enter its second phase with a complete set of 12 zodiac head sculptures in collaboration with Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum, to recreate the exquisite design and ingenuity of the fountain in the Western architecture of the Yuanmingyuan.

Created for the movie CZ12: Chinese Zodiac, the 12 zodiac head sculptures were vividly crafted to faithfully replicate the original ones from the Yuanmingyuan. As a continued exploration of East-West cultural exchanges, art technology and heritage conservation, Phase II of the exhibition will invite visitors to look closely at the striking design of all the zodiac heads, which were lost overseas for over a century, as if they are touring around Haiyantang (Hall of Calm Seas), Yuanmingyuan.

In addition, the exhibition will demonstrate the dynamic cultural exchanges between China and the West in the areas of art, culture, architecture, lifestyle, and science and technology from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Thanks to the support of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, The University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong, the Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, among others, the exhibition will also showcase nearly 40 bronze artefacts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and the Han Dynasty, as well as several pieces of archaistic bronze porcelain from the Qing dynasty.

Through innovative art technology and interactive experiences enabled by augmented reality, mixed reality and artificial intelligence technology, the exhibition gives visitors a dynamic understanding of world heritage conservation, art technology and historical change.

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