**********************************************************
The well-received "PICASSO - Masterpieces from Musˆme National Picasso, Paris" exhibition brought down its curtain yesterday (July 22) at 8pm. The two-month exhibition attracted about 295,000 visitors.
Running from May 19 to July 22 at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the exhibition was jointly presented by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and jointly organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Musˆme National Picasso, Paris. It was one of the highlight cultural events to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the 20th edition of Le French May.
A spokesman for the LCSD said, "We thank the public for their overwhelming support of the exhibition. This year, the LCSD has organised a number of large-scale exhibitions and activities to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the establishment of HKSAR. Aside from the Picasso exhibition, the latest exhibition, entitled 'A Lofty Retreat from the Red Dust: The Secret Garden of Emperor Qianlong', which opened in late June at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, has also attracted great interest from the public. Since its opening on June 22, the exhibition has attracted more than 60,000 visitors. Featuring 93 relics selected from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore the private garden built by Emperor Qianlong for his enjoyment after retirement. The exhibition will run until October 14.
"What's more, 'The Majesty of All Under Heaven: The Eternal Realm of China's First Emperor', the largest-ever Qin relics exhibition in Hong Kong, will open to the public at the Hong Kong Museum of History on Wednesday (July 25). Running until November 26, the exhibition will not only feature the largest number of Qin terracotta figures ever shown in Hong Kong, but will also use cutting-edge digital animation technology to reconstruct the magnificent scene of the Qin terracotta army."
The spokesman added, "We expect a large number of people will flock to the Qin exhibition. Those who want to visit the exhibition are advised to purchase tickets in advance. Admission to the exhibition is $10 and advance tickets are being put on sale in three phases at URBTIX outlets, the Hong Kong Museum of History's box office, Internet booking via URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) and credit card telephone booking (Tel: 2111 5999). For details of ticketing arrangements and ticket sales updates, please visit the exhibition website at firstemperor.lcsd.gov.hk or call the museum (Tel: 2724 9042) or URBTIX (Tel: 2734 9009)."
Ends/Monday, July 23, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:21
NNNN
