Rui Pastorin in Hong Kong
An exhibition in Hong Kong spotlighting Leonardo da Vinci’s (1452-1519) masterpiece the Mona Lisa, along with Renaissance art, through multimedia and physical works kicked off yesterday at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin.
Titled “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance” created especially for the city, the exhibition is presented as a highlight of the ongoing French May Art Festival, which lasts through July, with over a hundred programmes to be showcased.
The free-admission exhibition is title-sponsored by Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Incorporating digital storytelling, the first part of the exhibition, the six-chapter “Meet Mona Lisa”, tells the story of da Vinci’s masterpiece, from its conception as a portrait of noblewoman Lisa Gherardini, the famous 1911 theft that shocked the world to eventually becoming the ever-popular global icon, all across 500 years. The exhibition is jointly produced by the Musée du Louvre and the Grand Palais Immersif.
Bringing the exhibition to life is the use of multimedia technology, panoramic projections and interactive elements, with Mona Lisa’s “voice” guiding the museumgoers across different parts of this section.
Briefing the media during a press conference at the museum yesterday, Musée du Louvre Chief Curator of Italian Paintings of the 16th Century Vincent Delieuvin said that the exhibition is a chance to get a closer look at undoubtedly the most famous work of art in the world, albeit through technology.
At the Louvre Museum in France, where the piece is displayed, Delieuvin noted that it sees around 25,000 people a day hoping to catch a glimpse of it, but can’t do so for long or up close for security reasons. The exhibition therefore offers “the perfect opportunity to finally get close to the Mona Lisa, admire her, and understand how and why she became the most famous work of art in the world”, he said.
The second part, “Portraying the Renaissance”, focuses more on portraiture during the Renaissance, a period of intense cultural, artistic, and scientific growth in Europe that took place roughly between 1400 and 1600. Featured are real works of various mediums showcased in Hong Kong mostly for the first time. It is curated by the Musée National de la Renaissance – Château d’Écouen, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, the Ateliers d’art de la Réunion des Musées Nationaux – Grand Palais, and the Atelier de Chalcographie du Louvre.
Among its highlights are “Sheets from the Codex Atlanticus”, which features four of Da Vinci’s manuscripts from a collection of drawings and notes made between 1478 and 1518, along with pieces from the museum’s collection and works from Chinese mainland artist Xu Lei. Musée National de la Renaissance Curator and Art Historian Matteo Gianeselli noted in his remarks at the press conference that the event marks the first time that the museum has lent many works to a destination far from France.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum Director Brian Lam Kwok Fai meanwhile highlighted during the Q&A session that he expects around 180,000 visitors throughout its 3-month run.
An opening ceremony was held for the exhibition last night, with the Hong Kong SAR’s Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui ; Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Christile Drulhe; and Co-chairman of the Board of French May Arts Festival Pansy Ho Chiu-king among those in attendance and delivering remarks.
The exhibition is open until July 27. Stay tuned for more photos and details in an upcoming Page 4.
An interactive exhibit at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum allows visitors to digitally explore the Mona Lisa’s details.
Representatives and officiating guests including Hong Kong Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law (7th from left); Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau Christile Drulhe (6th from left); and Co-chairman of the Board of French May Arts Festival Pansy Ho Chiu-king (5th from left) pose for a group photo after officiating at yesterday’s opening ceremony at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
