The exhibition "A Path to Glory - Jin Yong's Centennial Memorial, Sculpted by Ren Zhe" held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the literary giant, Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong), concluded yesterday (October 7). The exhibition has been well received by the local public and tourists, with a total attendance of over 400 000 since its opening in mid-March.
      
     This exhibition was the first authorised sculpture exhibition showcasing Jin Yong's classic martial arts characters and was supported by Dr Cha's family and Ming Ho Publications Corporation Limited. Sculptor Ren Zhe created 22 lively sculptures of the most well-known characters in Jin Yong's five novels. The exhibition had also set alongside multimedia installations created by artist Victor Wong and his team, allowing visitors to immerse themselves into Jin Yong's imaginary world of martial arts.
      
     To extend this exhibition, the co-curator of the exhibition and Founder of Guyu Cultural Development Foundation, Mr William Fong, donated the Guo Jing and Huang Rong sculptures for the permanent collection of the HKHM. The sculpture "Guo Jing" shows the young hero's charm in the desert. He is staring into the sky, holding a bow in one arm and clasping the string with the other, arrows ready, displaying the fearless ambition of an eagle-shooting hero. The sculpture "Huang Rong" depicts the heroine's youth. Huang Rong's agile demeanour exudes a charismatic air as she gracefully rides sideways on a Ferghana horse. The sculpture "Guo Jing" will be on display outside the Jin Yong Gallery at the HKHM starting October 23.
      
     The Jin Yong Gallery was established in 2017, displaying more than 300 exhibits featuring the early career of Jin Yong, the creative process behind his martial arts novels and the impact the novels have had on Hong Kong's pop culture. The invaluable exhibits include the couplet created by Jin Yong using the first Chinese character of the titles of his 14 novels and novellas, the precious manuscripts of the new edition of "The Demi-Gods and the Semi-Devils", the early serialised novels in newspapers, and Dr Cha's "Go" board and stones. The Gallery also showcases the records of theme songs for TV dramas, promotional film posters, illustrations for novels and so on. A bust of Dr Cha donated by his family for the permanent collection of the HKHM is displayed as well.
      
     To tie in with the exhibition, the HKHM held various programmes related to Jin Yong's works during the exhibition period of more than six months including a reading corner of Jin Yong's works set up in the HKHM in collaboration with the Hong Kong Central Library, talks hosted by renowned scholars, workshops, and the night tour in Hanfu costume. The "Arts or Action, Why Not Both?" Classic Martial Arts Drama Costumes and Props Exhibition, organised by the Pop Culture Programmes Office, was also held at the open space on 2/F of the HKHM. These programmes allowed audiences to know more about the cultural connotations embodied in Jin Yong's works, and the influence of his works on Chinese people.
      
     The exhibition was presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and jointly organised by the HKHM and Guyu Cultural Development Foundation. For the latest news of the HKHM, please visit hk.heritage.museum/en/web/hm/highlights.html or follow Instagram www.instagram.com/heritagemuseum.hk/.
      
     The exhibition was one of the pre-programmes of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024. The LCSD presented the first Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival last year to great acclaim. This year, the second edition features "Arts & Action" as its theme, taking audiences on a journey through time to explore the charm of Hong Kong's pop culture. It encompasses both "Arts" (creative works) and "Action" (martial arts), an attempt to show the dynamic inheritance, diffusion, integration and breakthroughs within Hong Kong's pop culture. The event lineup offers a diverse range of formats including thematic exhibitions, film screenings, stage performances and outreach activities, and its rich content spans across literature, various art forms and martial arts, clearly showcasing how Hong Kong's vibrant and diverse pop culture stands out from the rest. For more information, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk/en. The exhibition was also one of the activities in the Chinese Culture Promotion Series. The LCSD has long been promoting Chinese history and culture through organising an array of programmes and activities to enable the public to learn more about the broad and profound Chinese culture. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ccpo/index.html.

Ends/Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Issued at HKT 10:52

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