Hong Kong Museum of Art
Donation of Works by Wu Guanzhong 2014
Dedicating his whole life to art, Wu Guanzhong (1919 – 2010) selflessly donated his works to museums in the country and worldwide. The generosity of Wu had moved many. Over the years, he had donated his works to the Hong Kong Museum of Art for four times. Having inherited Wu's selfless spirit, his family again made a donation of 25 paintings to the Museum, which now holds a total of 77 pieces of Wu's works. The 25 works, including 16 oil paintings and 9 ink paintings, were created from the 1990s to the early 21stth century, a period known as the heyday of Wu Guanzhong's artistic journey. The Museum has selected some of the works for exhibition so that the public can have a taste of these precious gifts.
Permanent Exhibition
10am – 6pm (MON – FRI)
10am – 7pm (SAT, SUN & Public Holidays)
Closed on THU except Public Holidays
Chinese Fine Art Gallery (4/F) Hong Kong Museum of Art 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
The Four Gentlemen: A Selection of Flower Paintings from
the Hong Kong Museum of Art Collection
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In traditional Chinese culture, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums are known as "The Four Gentlemen". This analogy originated in the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, when the literati painter Chen Jiru inscribed on the Painting manual of plum blossom, bamboo, orchid and chrysanthemum. In the inscription, he claimed that appreciating and acquiring the characteristics of "The Four Gentlemen", tha is the unyieldingness of plum blossoms, the aloof beauty of orchids, the modest and noble character of bamboos and the loftiness of chrysanthemums, could cleanse one's mind and add gracefulness to the personality.
Famous calligraphers, painters and literati like Tao Yuanming and Su Shi always employed the theme of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums in their paintings and poems so as to glorify and pursue the noble character and sentiments of a gentleman. In traditional Chinese New Year, "The Four Gentlemen" were commonly used in folk culture for sending blessings. This exhibition has selected from the museum's collection over 70 pieces of works by calligraphers and painters from the Ming dynasty to modern period, includingXu Wei of the Ming dynasty, Zheng Xie of the Qing dynasty, as well as modern Chinese painters like Wu Changshuo and Zhang Daqian.
Permanent Exhibition
10am – 6pm (MON – FRI)
10am – 7pm (SAT, SUN & Public Holidays)
Closed on THU except Public Holidays
Chinese Fine Art Gallery (4/F)
Hong Kong Museum of Art
10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong