2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

HongKong> Opinion> Content
Published: 01:59, August 09, 2021 | Updated: 12:53, August 09, 2021
Shaping a connected palace museum within Hong Kong
By Louis Ng Chi-wa
Published:01:59, August 09, 2021 Updated:12:53, August 09, 2021 By Louis Ng Chi-wa

The Hong Kong Palace Museum is due to open in July 2022, after five years in the making. The 900 works of art to be displayed are all gems of Beijing’s Palace Museum’s collection. A loan of this size is unprecedented in the history of the Beijing’s museum since its establishment in 1925, signifying a strategic partnership between the two institutions. 

As the third palace museum in China, how will the HKPM differentiate itself from its counterparts in Beijing and Taipei in terms of vision and positioning? The idea of a “connected museum” captures the distinct identity and role of the HKPM in advocating for a new paradigm for the interpretation of Chinese art and culture. In this context, the concept of connection has multiple meanings.

The HKPM will connect the past to the present, helping us understand who we are and how we came to be. It will not be a shrine containing works of art for people to worship. Instead, it will provide contemporary connections to works of art and historical objects in relation to modern life. Through storytelling, the museum will spark interest, encourage audiences to explore and contemplate, create meaning by connecting the objects on display to lived experiences, and help visitors internalize the history and culture of the Palace Museum. By providing this modern-day connection, the HKPM will serve as a catalyst for creativity and a place to bring traditional Chinese art and history into our modern lives.

We will tap into the enormous potential of digital technology and social media to engage with new audiences, explore collections in a new light, transform online learning, and, ultimately, rethink the entire visitor experience

The second connection is hyper-connectivity. Digital culture and technology are changing the way we experience and consume content, as well as the ways in which we interact with one another. As a forward-looking museum, the HKPM is committed to collaborating closely with artists, educators, designers, and the creative and technology sectors to open up new ways of learning and experiencing art and culture. The museum will do this through cultivating immersive storytelling, creating a digitally embedded museum environment, and engaging with many forms of digital content. We will tap into the enormous potential of digital technology and social media to engage with new audiences, explore collections in a new light, transform online learning, and, ultimately, rethink the entire visitor experience. This will enable us to meet the societal challenges of a networked and mediated culture more effectively.

The HKPM will also strengthen its connections with Chinese mainland museums and audiences, leveraging Hong Kong’s deeper integration within the overall development strategy of the country. Strategic partnerships will be established with major museums on the mainland for the purpose of collaboration and resource sharing, which will have mutual benefits. Cultural resources drawn from our partnering museums will be capitalized on to help students and young people in Hong Kong better understand Chinese history and culture, which will help forge a sense of national identity. The HKPM will also take advantage of the developmental opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. With a population of over 72 million, the Greater Bay Area has huge market potential, presenting opportunities for the HKPM to expand its audience base and promote patronage. The museum in turn will promote mutual trust and understanding within the Greater Bay Area, as we work toward a shared vision and set of values.

Finally, the HKPM aspires to connect Chinese culture with a global audience. The museum is well-positioned to play a key role in supporting Hong Kong’s efforts to become an art and culture hub that forms a bridge between China and the rest of the world — as envisioned in the nation’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), released in March. It will further international cooperation through strategic cultural partnerships, traveling exhibitions on world civilizations, collaborative research, and professional training programs. The museum is already well on its way to this, having reached out to over 70 major museums around the world in the interests of establishing a robust international network of partners. The HKPM’s multicultural team is composed of distinguished scholars and curators with diverse cultural backgrounds. They are well-suited to overcoming language and cultural barriers when communicating with international audiences, which will make the museum’s exhibitions and other offerings more engaging, inclusive, and accessible to all.

The world is undergoing a period of change unprecedented in modern history. To meet new global challenges, China is advocating for a vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between nations. Museums are important carriers of culture, history and values — powerhouses that can contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The HKPM, as China’s global museum, is committed to playing a role in this endeavour. Let’s stay connected.

The author is director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. 

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !