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An exhibition entitled "Wearable Blessings: Traditional Chinese Children's Clothing" will be held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from tomorrow (December 18) until March 21, 2016. Members of the public will be able to take a closer look at more than 200 items of Chinese children's traditional clothing and appreciate the beauty and exquisiteness of past clothing and fashion, as well as gain a better understanding of traditional Chinese culture.
Officiating at the opening ceremony today (December 17), the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui, said that Chinese people are particularly concerned with auspiciousness. They are good at using puns, homophones and symbols in artworks, daily utensils and traditional clothing to express their pursuit of a wonderful life. The exhibition sheds light on the traditional Chinese culture which embraces blessings through children's clothing.
The arrival of a newborn baby is considered the most joyous family event in traditional Chinese society. The older generation would dress children in clothes and accessories with auspicious patterns to wish the child good health and vitality. Therefore, Chinese children's traditional clothing was not only visually appealing and practical, but also richly invested with warm blessings.
The exhibition displays Chinese children's clothing including headwear, dresses, aprons, waistcoats and footwear, and accessories such as longevity padlocks and pendants, dating from the late Qing dynasty to the Republican period. Some examples of children's clothing from mid-20th century Hong Kong are also on display as part of the cultural lineage. In addition, children's clothing designed by the Institute of Textiles and Clothing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University are being showcased, using modern designs and techniques to reinterpret the auspicious motifs on the exhibits.
Other officiating guests included the Director of the Memorial Museum of Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen's Mansion, Dr Cheng Cunjie; the Chairman of the History Museum Advisory Panel, Mr Stanley Wong; the representative of the Naidongtang Collection, the US, Mr Leung Hok-pui; and the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Ms Fione Lo.
The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Memorial Museum of Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen's Mansion and organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, with support from the Institute of Textiles and Clothing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
For details of the exhibition, please visit the Hong Kong Heritage Museum's website at hk.heritage.museum, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.
Under the "Appreciate Hong Kong" Campaign, all museums of the LCSD will offer free admission for the entire month of January 2016 in order to encourage more visits to museums, where experiences of creativity, enjoyment and inspiration await.
Ends/Thursday, December 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:17
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