The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: "The Never-ending Dunhuang" Programme Series

Dunhuang, a name full of stories, was once a prosperous town on the Silk Road where the East met West. It is now acclaimed as an encyclopaedia, covering a thousand years of Chinese culture. From the 16th to 20th centuries, however, Dunhuang was bleak and deserted, with documents scattered due to poor administration. Not until the mid-20th century did Chinese scholars officially begin to study, preserve and manage the Dunhuang Caves to revive the glory of these relics. The legendary stories about Dunhuang are fascinating. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is organising various programmes under "The Never-ending Dunhuang" series in association with the exhibition "Dunhuang – Untold Tales, Untold Riches", including seminars, performing arts, school education, social inclusion and multi-lingual guided tours, to allow visitors and participants to learn about, experience and appreciate this treasure of art and culture from different perspectives. For those who fancy the Dunhuang culture, don't miss this chance!

Unless otherwise stated, all special programmes are conducted in Cantonese and are free of charge. A separate ticket is required for admission to museum exhibitions. For the special arrangements under inclement weather conditions, please click here for details. For enquiries, please call 2180 8260.
 

Flying Apsaras Dance Over the City

Dunhuang dance will be demonstrated with professional commentary and guidance. So that the audience can experience the art of Dunhuang through their dances.

Appreciating Dunhuang

Docents from the Dunhuang Academy will be in Hong Kong to explain the Dunhuang Grottoes in detail, helping us appreciate its phenomenal architectural design, painted stucco statues, murals and other features.

"Wonderful Imagination of Modern Life Inspired by Dunhuang" Poster Design Competition

Co-organised with Friends of Dunhuang Hong Kong
Special Programmes of "Dunhuang - Untold Tales, Untold Riches" and "Vision - Hong Kong International Poster Triennial 2014"

*Competition Results: Available in Chinese version only

Dunhuang culture is full of rich stories and spiritual connotations. It is not only a treasure for academic research, but also an invaluable source for us to acquire knowledge of history, art, ancient society, creativity and life. It inspires us to explore the relationship between Dunhuang culture and modern life to spark our imagination. This programme aims to enhance students' interest in, and knowledge of, the art, history and culture of Dunhuang. Through participation in the poster design contest, students can demonstrate their creativity, and integrate their understanding and thoughts about Dunhuang culture into their poster designs. The competition is divided into four divisions: Primary Students Division, Junior Secondary Students Division, Senior Secondary Students Division and Tertiary Students Division.

Awards: Each division offers prizes for the champion, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up. Award winners of the Senior Secondary Students Division and Tertiary Students Division can participate in the "Dunhuang Cultural Tour" 2015. Winners of the Primary Students Division and Junior Secondary Students Division will be awarded with book coupons.

Deadline for Submission: 28 January 2015

Enquiry: Education and Extension Services Team, Hong Kong Heritage Museum (Tel: 2180 8192 / 2180 8260)

"Dunhuang – Untold Tales, Untold Riches" In-depth Talks on Exhibits

Co-organised with Friends of Dunhuang Hong Kong

The Dunhuang caves house rich, colourful, extraordinary works of art. The volunteers from Friends of Dunhuang Hong Kong will present a selection of the most intriguing cultural charms of the Dunhuang caves in 10 tours. The speaker will guide the audience on a unique experience through the gallery to appreciate the artworks of the Dunhuang caves.

Thematic Talks Series I: Friends of Dunhuang Hong Kong Talking About Dunhuang

Co-organised with Friends of Dunhuang Hong Kong

Talk I: Dunhuang and the Silk Road: An Unfinished Beautiful Jigsaw Puzzle
 

The ancient stories of the Silk Road laid the foundation for Dunhuang's rich cultural heritage. This profound heritage would look like a mixed jumble without tracing its connections to the Silk Road.

While Dunhuang holds a wealth of clues, the critical challenge is to determine what and how much this place reveals about the treasures of the Silk Road. What clues are we looking for in this unfinished jigsaw?

Talk II: "Landscape"   [FULL]
 

Painted 1,400 years ago, the Dunhuang murals are among the very few landscape paintings that remain from the Northern Wei and early Tang times. The vibrant colours of these murals were well preserved by the dry air in the caves. They are an invaluable primary source of knowledge about those times and provide precious examples of the evolution of Chinese landscape painting through the dynasties.

Talk III: Bygone Years, People and Anecdotes Captured in Old Photographs   [FULL]
 

Many have been impressed by the art of the Mogao Caves, which a century ago were part of a desolate landscape. In the 1940s, some silent guardians took steps to protect the caves and their historical treasures, selflessly devoting their lives to revitalising this thousand-year-old treasury of art. This talk will use a mixture of first-hand writings, old photographs, and interviews conducted by the speaker, to look into the stories and admirable spirit of the people of Mogao.

Venue for this Thematic Talks Series: Theatre, 1/F

Enrolment: A maximum of 300 participants for each talk on a first-come-first-served basis. To register, please call 2180 8260 or complete the application form for Education and Extension Programmes (apply online / download the form). The programme will have free seating. All participants should register and line up at the side entrance one hour before the start of the programme.

Thematic Talks Series II: On Dunhuang, by Local Scholars

The Reflection of the Moon in Thousand Waters: Appreciation and Analytical Study of the Painting of Water-Moon Guanyin    [FULL]
 

One of the 33 manifestations of Avalokiteśvara created by Buddhist artists, the Water-Moon Guanyin is shown sitting in royal ease before a landscape lit by a full moon, surrounded by an ethereal atmosphere that conveys the serenity of the bodhisattva. How were the sculptures of the Water-Moon Guanyin found in Dunhuang? Why did they become popular after the Tang Dynasty? What influences did this have on other places?

Thematic Talks Series III: Experts Discuss Dunhuang

Remarks: Talk programmes under the series will be conducted in Putonghua.

Talk I: Protecting and Restoring the Murals of Dunhuang   [FULL]

The Mogao Caves are home to the largest collection of cave-temple murals in China and the world. Over the years, Dunhuang Academy has teamed up with their counterparts in the U.S., Japan and other places to explore more effective ways of protecting the murals of the Dunhuang Grottoes. During the 21st century, there has been a gradual shift in focus away from the protection and restoration of individual caves towards more systematic protection. The speaker will shed light on the causes of the gradual erosion of the Mogao Caves, and talk about the restoration and protection efforts planned for the long-term preservation of the Dunhuang murals.

Talk II: Children's Lives in the Past Depicted in the Dunhuang Murals   [FULL]

Children are an important segment of society. Due to the lack of detailed historical records, it is difficult to get a clear picture of what life was like for children in the distant past. Fortunately, the murals of the Dunhuang Grottoes give accurate depictions of children's lives in the Middle Ages. The speaker, along with researchers, have carried out an extensive survey of the Mogao Caves, Yulin Caves and Western Thousand Buddha Caves. Combining the results with historical records, they provide a better understanding of children's lives in the past as depicted in the Dunhuang murals.

Talk III: Copying the Dunhuange Murals: The Art and the Technique   [FULL]
 

Since its earliest days, the National Dunhuang Art Institute has relied on mural copies and painted stucco statues as guides to understanding the art of the Dunhuang grottoes. After half a century of replication and research efforts by successive generations of artists, the Institute has developed a scientific procedure for crafting exact copies of the murals, restoring faded colours and even reviving their original beauty. The speaker, who has spent years copying the Dunhuang murals, will talk about the traditional techniques and materials used, and the significance of the task. The speaker will also share how copyists connect with and delve into the minds of the creators.

Talk IV: Digitizing the Dunhuang Grottoes: Method and Use   [FULL]
 

In the 1990s, Dunhuang Academy began an effort to preserve the invaluable heritage of the Dunhuang Grottoes, by exploring the use of computer technology for storing information about the murals. After more than two decades of exploration, innovation and experience, the Academy has established a systematic digitization process that follows a pattern of filming, image editing and simulation. The process has been used for producing archaeological reports, copying artwork and restoring murals, as well as for exhibitions, cultural and creative content, animations and the study of Dunhuangology. The speaker will describe how three-dimensional data is collected to reconstruct the sculptures of the Dunhuang grottoes.

Fulldome Show: The Splendors of Buddha's Palace

The Splendors of Buddha's Palace is a super-high-definition fulldome show produced by Dunhuang Academy. The digitalized images of the seven most representative Mogao caves will be presented in an immersive manner.

Show date: 17 January to 28 March 2015 (every Saturday except 21 February 2015, 10 shows)

Venue: Stanley Ho Space Theatre, Hong Kong Space Museum

Time: 11:10 am

Show duration: 21 minutes

Language: Cantonese (narration in English, Putonghua or Japanese is available through the headphone system)

Tickets: Please visit the following Facebook Page or scan the QR Code for details.