*******************************************************
A large-scale cultural event, "Genesis and Spirit: A Showcase of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China", presented by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China (Ministry of Culture) and the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and organised by the China National Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), was officially opened today (October 8). The "Genesis and Spirit: Intangible Cultural Heritage of China Exhibition", one of the major programmes of the event, was opened today and is being shown at the Hong Kong Central Library until October 27.
Featuring photos and artefacts from both the Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as captivating demonstrations by eight representative bearers of items on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the exhibition enables the public to understand the development of intangible cultural heritage in Mainland China and Hong Kong and the measures to safeguard it.
Officiating at today's opening ceremony were the Minister of Culture, Dr Cai Wu; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Li Gang; the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Gao Yuchen; the Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Culture, Ms Hou Xianghua; the Director-General of the Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture, Mr Ma Wenhui; the Vice President of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, Mr Zhang Qingshan; and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Tsang noted that the event is being presented by the Ministry of Culture and the Home Affairs Bureau to showcase the rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage of the country as well as the major achievements of Mainland China and Hong Kong in the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
Mr Tsang also said that the governments of the Mainland and Hong Kong attached great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. Currently, a total of 28 Chinese items have been included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)'s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including Cantonese opera, which was jointly applied for by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. Meanwhile, there are six items inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, making China the top-ranking country in terms of the number of listed items. Mr Tsang referred to that as a proof of the country's vast wealth of intangible cultural heritage, as well as its immense dedication to the preservation of such heritage.
He added that Hong Kong is equally devoted to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. In addition to Cantonese opera, five other items - the Yu Lan Ghost Festival of the Hong Kong Chiu Chow community, the Tai Hang fire dragon dance, the Tai O dragon boat water parade, the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival and herbal tea - have been added to the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. He said the Government is now conducting a territory-wide survey, which will be completed by mid-2012. The survey would serve as a basis for drawing up a list of intangible cultural heritage and various preservation measures.
To enrich the contents of the exhibition, eight representative bearers of items on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage have been invited to Hong Kong to present live demonstrations of traditional craftsmanship at the exhibition hall of the Hong Kong Central Library. They are Regong art (Thang ka), the forging skill for Miao silver ornaments, the silk weaving of Tujia, Suzhou embroidery (Wuxi exquisite embroidery), Wan'an compass production, shadow play (Taishan shadow play), paper cutting (Baotou paper cutting) and lacquer engraving. Demonstrations of the first seven items mentioned will take place from 9.30am to 11.30am and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm daily from today until October 19, while demonstrations of the lacquer engraving technique will be presented daily from 9.30am to 11.30am and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm from today until October 10.
Another highlight of the exhibition is the show "iJiao", which was conceived and produced by the City University of Hong Kong Applied Laboratory for Interactive Visualisation and Embodiment. Incorporating 360-degree video sequences from the jiao festivals using the iDome hemispherical projection system, "iJiao" will give visitors a vivid experience of this unique Hong Kong cultural tradition.
In addition to the exhibition, "Genesis and Spirit: A Showcase of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China" also comprises two performances and an academic seminar.
The performances, to be held on October 11 and 12 at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, will bring together a collection of Chinese ethnic and mainstream cultural items that have been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and China's National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, including guqin music, excerpts of Cantonese opera from the traditional paichang repertoire, ethnic music and dance, and more. The seminar will be held on October 9 at the Lecture Theatre of the Hong Kong Central Library.
Held at the Hong Kong Central Library at 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, the exhibition is open from 9am to 8pm daily during the exhibition period. Admission to the exhibition is free.
For details of the exhibition, please visit the webpage of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum at www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/chi/exhibitions/exhibition_details.aspx?exid=179, or call 2108 8188.
For details of the performing programmes, please visit the LCSD's website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/000002e7.html, or call 2268 7321 for enquiries. For details of the seminar, please call 2180 8260.
Ends/Saturday, October 8, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:54
NNNN
