The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) is collaborating with the Palace of Versailles and the French May Arts Festival for the first time to proudly present the "Virtually Versailles" exhibition. Starting today (April 19), the exhibition brings the world's first virtual exhibition of the Palace of Versailles, a World Heritage Site, to visitors for an immersive feast of the senses.
          
     Addressing the opening ceremony today, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, said the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is honoured to join hands with one of the most prestigious designated World Heritage Sites and popular tourist attractions in the world to stage this creative and intriguing exhibition featuring the grandeur of the entire palace complex through digital assets. There will be a number of unique and interactive installations integrating the senses of vision, hearing and smell into the gallery display, adding a new visiting experience to this immersive exhibition. It provides a vivid example of the use of cutting-edge technology in interpreting art and history and facilitating cultural exchange, bringing new inspiration to visitors and creative industries.
      
     The exhibition is divided into six thematic sections, namely "Time Travel Versailles", "The Splendours of Versailles", "Versailles Style", "The Nature of Versailles", "Innovation at Versailles" and "A Day in Versailles". Through 360-degree, high-definition panoramic videos, the most famous rooms in the Palace, including the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Opera House and the Venus Room, are revealed in all their splendour. In addition, the exhibition features deliver a multi-sensory experience allowing visitors to hear the reconstructed voice of Louis XIV, smell the exclusive scent specially created for Versailles by a renowned French master perfumer, and ride on interactive bicycles to view the beautiful natural scenery of the royal parks and gardens.
      
     Other officiating guests today included the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mrs Christile Drulhe; the Co-Chairman of the Board of French May Arts Festival, Mrs Mignonne Cheng; the President of Palace of Versailles, Ms Catherine Pégard; the Executive Director, Charities and Community of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Gabriel Leung; the Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong of BNP Paribas, Mr Hugo Leung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Vincent Liu; the Ambassador of French May Arts Festival, Ms Karena Lam; and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Mr Brian Lam.
          
     The exhibition, which will run from April 19 to July 9 at the HKHM (1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin), is one of the programmes of the 30th anniversary of the French May Arts Festival. The exhibition is jointly presented by the LCSD and the French May Arts Festival, and jointly organised by the HKHM, the Palace of Versailles and the French May Arts Festival. It is made possible with major support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The Hong Kong Jockey Club's support for the "Virtually Versailles" exhibition, like all its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax and charity support for the community.
      
     The exhibition is also supported by the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, sponsored by BNP Paribas, with LG OLED ART as its digital display partner and Lumina Live! as its co-creator. For details of the exhibition, please visit
hk.heritage.museum/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid277.html, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.

Ends/Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Issued at HKT 21:05

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