【Talk】
“Zoom-in World Treasures” Talk Series
Session 1
Qianlong Garden: Art, Legacy and Conservation
by Ms Li Yue, Senior Engineer, Heritage Architecture Department, The Palace Museum
As part of the “Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West” exhibition, we have invited Ms Li Yue, Senior Engineer from the Heritage Architecture Department of The Palace Museum, to discuss how the Qianlong Garden blends court and regional aesthetics with mid-Qing craftsmanship. She will also share insights from two decades of conservation practices at The Palace Museum.
Date: 2026.04.25 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Venue: The Hall, 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Speaker: Ms Li Yue
Language: Putonghua
Fee: Free
Remarks: Enrolment is not required. The Hall will be open for admission 15 minutes before the event commences. Limited quota available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Session 2
Garden Exchanges between Versailles and Yuanming Yuan
by Prof Greg M. Thomas, Professor, Department of Art History, The University of Hong Kong
This talk will compare royal garden traditions in China and Europe, focusing on exchanges between Versailles and Yuanming Yuan — covering garden design, botanical collecting and decorative arts. Drawing on objects from the “Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West” exhibition, Professor Thomas will explore the influence of Chinese gardens on Europe, presenting the rich interactions between Eastern and Western gardening concepts, objects and imagery.
Date: 2026.05.09 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Venue: The Hall, 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Speaker: Prof Greg M. Thomas
Language: English
Fee: Free
Remarks: Enrolment is not required. The Hall will be open for admission 15 minutes before the event commences. Limited quota available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Session 3
Flora of the South: Lingnan Characteristics in the Garden
by Dr Liang Jiyong, Philologist, Painter and Calligrapher, and Music Historian
While Jiangnan has long been regarded as the heartland of classical Chinese gardens, Lingnan gardens possess their own distinct regional characteristics, particularly in the use of local materials, plants and trees, and architectural elements. Drawing on Lingnan features found in existing gardens, Dr Liang will introduce the unique qualities that define the Lingnan garden tradition.
Date: 2026.05.30 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Venue: The Hall, 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Speaker: Dr Liang Jiyong
Language: Cantonese
Fee: Free
Remarks: Enrolment is not required. The Hall will be open for admission 15 minutes before the event commences. Limited quota available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Session 4
The Last Gift from Beijing: Henri Bertin and Chinese-Western Botanical Exchanges in the 18th Century
by Prof Lianming Wang, Associate Professor, Department of Chinese and History, City University of Hong Kong
In this talk, Prof Wang will begin with a large-scale painting from the collections of the National Library of France, exploring the connections between the Catholic Church in Beijing and European botanical gardens in the 18th century. With rising interest in “Chinoiserie” gardens and the development of physiocracy, European interest in Chinese plants shifted from botany to horticulture. Against this backdrop, Professor Wang will examine how French statesman Henri Bertin realised his dream of creating a Chinese garden.
Date: 2026.06.13 (Saturday)
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Venue: The Hall, 1/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Speaker: Prof Wang Lianming
Language: Putonghua
Fee: Free
Remarks: Enrolment is not required. The Hall will be open for admission 15 minutes before the event commences. Limited quota available on a first-come, first-served basis.
【Workshops】
Bonsai‧Returning to Stillness
In this workshop, you are invited to design a miniature landscape that is uniquely your own. This process aims to spark creativity and nurture a connection with nature, guiding your soul back to stillness. Participants will also explore the aesthetics and care of bonsai, along with its deeper meanings within the artistic tradition.
Date / Time (Same content for each session):
20 June 2026 (Saturday) 10:30am – 12pm
11 July 2026 (Saturday) 10:30am – 12pm
18 July 2026 (Saturday) 10:30am – 12pm
Venue: Activity Room, Basement, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Language: Cantonese
Fee: Free
Registration: Starting at 10 am on 20 May 2026 (Wednesday)
Quota: 25 participants per session*
* First come, first served. Registration will close once all places are filled.
Dried Blossom‧Heartfelt Expression
Petal by petal, in a quiet spectrum of colours, these dried botanicals are waiting to be transformed into a card that speaks from your heart. Under the guidance of an instructor, you will immerse yourself in the creative process, appreciating the subtle aesthetics and the simple purity of handcrafting. This workshop also offers an introduction to the symbolic meanings of flowers across culture and art.
Date / Time (Same content for each session):
28 June 2026 (Sunday) 10:30am – 12pm
4 July 2026 (Saturday) 10:30am – 12pm
11 July 2026 (Saturday) 2:30pm – 4 pm
Venue: Activity Room, Basement, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Language: Cantonese
Fee: Free
Registration: Starting at 10 am on 20 May 2026 (Wednesday)
Quota: 25 participants per session*
* First come, first served. Registration will close once all places are filled.
Plant Rubbing‧The Beauty of Nature
Using simple and playful plant rubbing techniques, accompanied by gentle tapping motions, you will transfer the natural forms and colours of leaves and flowers onto an eco‑friendly fabric tote bag. No chemical dyes are used in the process, allowing the textures and living energy of nature to reveal themselves organically. Participants will experience the beauty of the natural world through slow, mindful handcraft.
Date / Time (Same content for each session):
20 June 2026 (Saturday) 2:30pm – 4pm
4 July 2026 (Saturday) 2:30pm – 4pm
18 July 2026 (Saturday) 2:30pm – 4pm
Venue: Activity Room, Basement, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Language: Cantonese
Fee: Free
Registration: Starting at 10 am on 20 May 2026 (Wednesday)
Quota: 25 participants per session*
* First come, first served. Registration will close once all places are filled.
