A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe
Free Admission
Thematic Gallery 5, Courtyard and Lobby
16 March – 7 October 2024
Presented by: Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Jointly organised by: Hong Kong Heritage Museum and Guyu Cultural Development Foundation
Co-curated by: Guyu Cultural Development Foundation, Boundless Artists Collective, Ren Zhe Sculpture Studio
Supported by: Ming Ho Publications Corporation Limited
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong), Hong Kong Heritage Museum is proud to present the exhibition "A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe". In The Giant Eagle and its Companion, Guo Jing spoke of the imperative of a true hero along the lines of ‘A true hero is to serve the country and the people’. This is the chivalrous deed passed to Yang Guo, which paved his path to glory in the novel. Between 1955 and 1972, under the pen name Jin Yong, Dr Louis Cha wrote 15 novels populated by over 1,400 characters that have become part of the collective consciousness of Hong Kong and Chinese people all over the world. In this exhibition, renowned sculptor Ren Zhe brings 22 of Jin Yong’s characters to life in unique representations infused with visionary creativity, set alongside captivating multimedia installations created by media artist Victor Wong (winner of the Best Visual Effects of the Hong Kong Film Awards) and his team.
On the centenary of Dr Louis Cha’s birth, the Cha family will donate a bust of Jin Yong, sculpted by Ren Zhe, to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. The sculpture will be part of the museum’s permanent collection, and be on display in the Jin Yong Gallery for visitors to pay tribute to the literary giant.
The lively and spirited sculptures immerse visitors in Jin Yong’s imaginary world of martial arts, illustrating classic scenes from the novels as well as the martial arts skills of the characters. A series of talks during the exhibition period will help audiences get further acquainted with the Chinese culture embodied in the novels, including its historical settings, literature, morals, and values. Inside the exhibition gallery will also be found a reading corner organised by the Hong Kong Central Library, where visitors can explore the library’s collections of Jin Yong’s compelling works, which include audiobooks.
The exhibition is the pre-festival programme of “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024”, and also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has all along promoted Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public learn more about broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.