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¡§The Pride of China: Masterpieces of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy of the Jin, Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties from the Palace Museum¡¨ will extend its opening hours from 9am to 10pm starting from Sunday (July 8) to allow more visitors to see this unprecedented exhibition.
A spokesman for the Museum of Art said the exhibition was well received by the public, especially ¡§Along the River During the Qingming Festival¡¨ by Zhang Zeduan of the Northern Song dynasty.
¡§To cope with the large crowds, a special gallery has been set up to display this star exhibit and measures such as admissions regulated by hourly sessions and setting a time limit for viewing the work have been introduced.
¡§The new arrangement of extending the opening hours to 10pm will allow more people to view the priceless items. People should take this golden opportunity to see these national treasures.
¡§Apart from ¡¥Along the River During the Qingming Festival¡¦ gallery, another exhibition gallery has also been set up to show the other 15 valuable exhibits on loan from the Palace Museum,¡¨ the spokesman said. ¡§No time limit is set for this gallery. To facilitate those who want to view these exhibits, a special ticket priced at $20 for visiting only this gallery will be put on sale starting from July 8 to July 22. However, the special tickets will only be available at the Box Office of the Museum of Art.
¡§We believe that this new arrangement will allow visitors, who make an impromptu visit to the museum, greater flexibility to view the exhibition.¡¨
Thirty-two world-acclaimed masterpieces of Chinese painting and calligraphy specially selected from the Palace Museum are put on display in two phases. The first phase featuring the above 16 exhibits runs from until July 22. Highlights include Zhang Zeduan¡¦s ¡§Along the River During the Qingming Festival¡¨ of the Northern Song dynasty, Wang Shen¡¦s ¡§Light Snow over a Fishing Village¡¨ of the Northern Song dynasty, Zhao Ji (Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty)¡¦s ¡§Auspicious Dragon Rock¡¨ of the Northern Song dynasty, Feng Chengsu¡¦s ¡§Copy after Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering¡¨ of the Tang dynasty, Qian Xuan¡¦s ¡§Secluded Dwelling¡¨ of the Yuan dynasty, Yan Zhenqing¡¦s ¡§Letter on the Flood in Huzhou¡¨ of the Tang dynasty, Xianyu Shu¡¦s ¡§Poem by Du Fu on Visiting Zhaoling Mausoleum¡¨ of the Yuan dynasty and Ni Zan¡¦s ¡§Ink Bamboo¡¨ of the Yuan dynasty.
The second phase of the exhibition will run from July 23 to August 11. Highlights include Qiu Ying¡¦s ¡§Copy after Along the River During the Qingming Festival¡¨ of the Ming dynasty, Wang Xun¡¦s ¡§Letter to Boyuan¡¨ of the Jin dynasty, Yan Liben¡¦s ¡§Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy¡¨ of the Tang dynasty, Dong Yuan¡¦s ¡§The Xiao and Xiang Rivers¡¨ of the Five Dynasties, Su Shi¡¦s ¡§Letter on the Consignation of Author¡¦s Graveyard¡¨ of the Northern Song dynasty, Mi Fu¡¦s ¡§Poem of the Tiao River¡¨ of the Northern Song dynasty, Liu Songnian¡¦s ¡§Landscapes of the Four Seasons¡¨ of the Southern Song dynasty, and Li Song¡¦s ¡§Puppet Play of a Skeleton¡¨ of the Southern Song dynasty.
The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Palace Museum and is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Palace Museum. It is co-sponsored by HSBC and the Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, with Dragonair as the official carrier. It is one of the signature events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of HKSAR.
The exhibition will open from 9am to 10pm daily from July 8 to Aug 11 (except July 13, 14, 20 and 22). It opens from 9am to 9pm tomorrow (July 7) and is closed on Thursdays. Admission to this exhibition is $30 (normal ticket) and $20 (special tickets which exclude admission to the ¡§Along the River During the Qingming Festival¡¨ Special Exhibition Gallery and will only be available from July 8 to July 22). A half-price concession is available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, full-time students and people with disabilities. ¡§Free Admission on Wednesdays¡¨ and the department Weekly Pass are not applicable to this exhibition.¡@The normal tickets are now available for sale at the Box Office of Museum of Art and URBTIX outlets and booking services on Internet are also available while the special tickets only available at the Box Office of the Museum of Art.
The Museum of Art is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. For details of the exhibition, visit the Museum of Art's website at http://hk.art.museum. For enquiries, call 2721 0116.
Ends/Friday, July 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:14
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